NEW figures show that almost 100 motorists in Donegal have been driving with only a learner permit for more than 20 years.
Nationally, almost 5,000 people have been driving with only a learner permit for more than 20 years. Nearly 240,000 drivers across the country only have learner permits.
In Donegal, almost 100 drivers have had only a learner permit for a period of more than 20 years, while 255 people in Donegal have been driving with a permit for between 10 and 20 years.
Under current rules, you can’t apply for a third or subsequent learner permit unless you’ve recently done a driving test or have an upcoming test.
But new figures show nearly 23,000 drivers have had a learner permit for at least ten years and 1,442 have had one for over 25 years.
The Department of Transport said it is aware there are a large number of people on the roads with their fourth, fifth, sixth and subsequent learner permits – and it is trying to eliminate the backlog.
You must always have a fully qualified driver with you in the car if you have a learner permit.
Last year however, penalty points were issued to almost 2,000 drivers for breaking that law.
Currently, there are 7,055 learner drivers in Donegal.
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