New Report Calls for Mandatory On-Road Driving Practice to Reduce Collisions Involving Irish Learner Drivers
A newly published report by road safety experts Cliodhna Jordan MSc MBA FCII and Aidan Jordan ADI is urging immediate policy action to introduce mandatory recorded on-road driving practice hours for learner drivers in Ireland. The comprehensive comparative study highlights alarming statistics around unaccompanied driving and road collisions involving young motorists, and proposes a life-saving solution rooted in international best practice.
The report, “Comparative Report on the Requirement for Mandatory Recorded On-Road Driving Practice Hours for Learner Drivers in Ireland (Category B),” reveals that between 2013 and 2021, 376 killed or serious injury (KSI) collisions involved unaccompanied learner drivers—despite laws requiring accompaniment. These collisions represent a 285% increased risk compared to supervised learner drivers.
While Ireland’s Essential Driver Training (EDT) programme mandates 12 driving lessons, the additional 36 hours of on-road practice recommended between lessons remain voluntary and untracked, rendering the current framework ineffective.
” Driving provides a terrific sense of freedom, but it’s also potentially the most dangerous action we do daily. Learning to drive isn’t just about passing a test – it’s about learning skills from experience and continually improving and advancing the quality of those skills ” said co-authors Cliodhna and Aidan Jordan,
Key Findings from the Report:
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- Road Fatalities between 2013-2021 dropped 285% when the learner driver was accompanied when driving.
- Ireland in a 2021 report published by the European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO) had the second highest road fatalities for 18-24 year age group – 18% of all road fatalities
- The EU 27 has an average road fatality rate of 12% amongs the age group 18-24
- In 2024, 48 road fatalities were recorded in Ireland for 16-25 year olds representing 28% of all road fatalities
- Completing 50 hours of on-road accompanied driving practice reduces the risk of collision by 21%
- As part of the recommendations for Essential Driver Training in 2009, the consultants (CAS) recommended 60 hours mandatory logged on-road driving practice
- When EDT was introduced in 2011, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) recommended 36 hours on-road practice with an accompanying driver however, these hours are not mandatory or recorded.
- Since the introduction of EDT in 2011
- The driving test pass rate for the driving test has remained unchanged.
- The fatality rate amongst 16-24 year olds has remained the same
The report references international models that demonstrate the effectiveness of structured on-road experience in reducing novice driver crashes. It also cites a 2009 Road Safety Authority (RSA) consultant recommendation for 60 hours of recorded practice — a recommendation that was not adopted in the final EDT design.
The report’s authors, backed by LDSP Ireland CLG, are calling for mandatory, logged driving practice hours with a sponsor to be integrated into the learner driver process. This would align Ireland with international best practice and strengthen the country’s efforts toward Vision Zero, the government’s commitment to eliminating road fatalities by 2050.
LDSP Ireland CLG urges the Irish government and the Road Safety Authority to act now. Introducing mandatory, recorded on-road driving practice hours can drastically improve learner safety, reduce collisions, and save lives on Irish roads.
For further information Email: ldspireland@gmail.com Phone: 087 6747005 / 2672466 or download a copy of the report Comparative Report on the requirement for mandatory recorded on-road driving practice hours for Learner Drivers in Ireland (Category B)
