100 Donegal motorists using learner licence for 20 years

ALMOST 100 Co Donegal motorists have been driving on a `learner’s' licence for more than 20 years.

New statistics also show that 255 people have been driving on the same permit for a decade or more.

The figures, revealed under the Republic’s Freedom of Information law, have prompted calls for an overhaul of driving legislation. Road safety campaigner, Aisling Reid said new laws were urgently needed to tackle the problem.

Ms Reid said it should be mandatory that learner licences are not renewed unless the motorist has undertaken a driving test.

Ms Reid told Highland Radio: “The RSA (Road Safety Authority) pledged in their strategy for 2013 to 2020 to make it mandatory to sit your test and this should have been actioned by 2014. We’re now in the year 2020 so we’re very anxious to know what they plan to do to address this issue.”