Driving licence in the Republic of Ireland

A driving licence issued by the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport through a Principal Local Authority is required to drive most forms of motorized vehicles in public in the state. Based on the European driving licence standards, neither the categories of licence available nor the physical licence meet the 2006 standards as of 2008.

The physical licence is based on an older European format, defined in Directive 91/439/EEC, as used in Germany and other countries in the past. It consists of a pink tri-fold paper document, laminated on one side. It contains a photo of the driver, their personal details and home address, and a listing of categories of vehicle they are licensed for, with any restrictions printed using a code format. The unlaminated side consists of a section for any written in endorsements as well as a page with the term 'Driving licence' or its equivalents in a large number of languages.

Obtaining a driving licence as of 2010 requires having held a learners permit for 6 months and completing a combined practical and theory driving test, which covers driving, road safety and a minor amount of mechanical knowledge of a car. Obtaining a learners permit to begin with requires passing a computerised theory test. There are people who still hold valid "Provisional licences" from the previous (to 2007) system of issuing licences to enable people to learn to drive, but these now carry the same restrictions as current permits. Those on learner permits for most categories of licence must not drive unaccompanied. No learner permit holders are allowed to drive on motorways, and all must display red L-plates at all times, either on their vehicle or on a tabard if a motorcyclist.

Irish Driving Licence

Both learner permits and the former provisional licences are identical in format to full licences, but green in colour. They do not carry the full translations list as they are not valid outside of the Republic of Ireland, and are marked as such on the front. Once a driving test has been passed, all categories of driver with the exception of motorcycle drivers have no restrictions on road usage or vehicle type.

Since 2002, Ireland, like other EU states, has operated a penalty points system for driving offences. If a driver accrues 12 points, their license is revoked.

Prior to serious reforms in 2007, many people who drove never completed the process of receiving a full licence - 400,000 people held provisional licences in October 2007 when the permit system was introduced. Serious crackdowns and a huge increase in testing facilities have brought this number down heavily.

Gallery

• 

  Current Irish driving licence

• 

  Current Irish learners permit

• 

  Old version Irish driving licence (1981)

• 

  Old version Irish provisional driving licence (1976)

Confusion over Polish licenses

A Polish driving license, issued in 2003

In February 2009, gardaí in Ireland were investigating a recidivist who received numerous traffic tickets at different addresses when they determined that gardaí had mistaken the words "Prawo Jazdy," Polish for "driving licence," for the name of the motorist.^[1] In October 2009, the Garda Síochána were awarded an Ig Nobel Prize in literature for this series of mixups.^[2][3]

Driver Theory Test

The Driver Theory Test is carried out by Prometric Ireland on behalf of the RSA. The website for booking the theory test only lists locations outside of Dublin, one must type in Dublin in the Google map search box in order to return locations based in Dublin.

See also

• For Northern Ireland see Driving licence in the United Kingdom
• Irish passport

External links

• Road Safety Authority (responsible for driving licences)

References

1. ^ "You're in big trouble now, Mr. License!". Reuters (Dublin). Feb 19, 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE51I3ZS20090219. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
2. ^ http://improbable.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html#ig2009
3. ^ "Police in Ig Nobel Pole position". BBC Online. 5 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8290549.stm. Retrieved 8 February 2011.