Ireland considers motorway training for learner drivers

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) in Ireland is considering a major overhaul of the driving curriculum to include motorway experience for learner drivers. Currently, those with learner permits are prohibited from driving on motorways, even with an instructor, creating a gap in training that is only addressed after passing the driving test.

This proposal follows a rise in road fatalities and a specific tragedy on the M9 motorway in County Kildare, where five teenagers were killed in a head-on collision involving a vehicle traveling the wrong way. RSA Chief Operations Officer Brendan Walsh informed the Joint Committee on Transport that a study regarding the practicality of motorway training is being reviewed, with results expected next month.

Potential solutions include supervised motorway lessons or the use of driving simulators for regions where motorways are not easily accessible. Road Safety Minister Seán Canney has supported the idea of incorporating motorway training, noting that simulators could provide necessary experience even in areas without direct motorway access.