THE ROAD SAFETY Authority has called on members of the public to share their thoughts on the driving test.
The test turns 50 this year and the RSA are marking the milestone by seeking people’s views on how it should be changed.
If you’re stuck for ideas at the minute, you’ve got a few weeks to come up with something as the deadline for submissions is Friday, 18 July.
Some 140,000 driving tests take place in Ireland each year, with 1,800 approved instructors nationwide.
In 1964, the year the test was introduced, 341 people died on Irish roads, compared with 190 road deaths in 2014. There are currently 2.4 million vehicles on our roads, up from 400,000 50 years ago.
The RSA is currently hosting the 46th General Assembly of CIECA, the international driver testing commission, at Dublin Castle.
Moyagh Murdock, the RSA’s CEO, said that every development made to driver training and testing leads to our roads “becoming a safer place”.
Driver education is absolutely key to safety on the roads. We are delighted to mark the 50th anniversary of the test this year, and look forward to the next 50 years when driver education and training will make the roads an even safer space for us all to share.
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said that the driving test has saved thousands of lives over the years.
The public consultation launched today will help members of the public, and interested parties to shape the future of the driving test.
He noted that one of the proposals being considered is a hazard perception test, where the driver is asked to identify potential hazards in photographs or videos.
“The ability to spot hazards is a vital skill and marks out a really competent driver, and its inclusion in training and testing would help to focus attention on this skill at an early stage,” he stated.
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