It is now an offence for car owners to let lone L-drivers use vehicles
A change is coming for drivers in Ireland.
If your mam, dad, brother, aunt or friend let you go for a spin in their car to the local shops on your own, even though you're only a learner driver – they'll find themselves in some hot water from tomorrow.
Under a new amendment, it will be an offence for owners of cars who allow "unaccompanied learner drivers" to knowingly use their vehicle.
The "Clancy Amendment" is due to come into force on December 22, 2018.
Minister for Transport Shane Ross is this morning announcing the commencement of the ‘Clancy Amendment’ – the unaccompanied learner driver provisions of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018.
Here’s what the new provisions will entail: pic.twitter.com/VJQR9StkXZ
— Hayley Halpin (@HayleyHalpin1) December 21, 2018
The Minister for Transport Shane Ross made an announcement about the change to the law this morning.
The new provisions "now make it an offence for the owner of a vehicle to knowingly allow an unaccompanied learner or unlicensed person to drive his or her vehicle."
"The provisions also extend the power of detention under section 21 if the Road Traffic 1994 to allow the Garda Síochána to detain a vehicle being driven, in the Garda's opinion, buy an unaccompanied learner."
Behind the amendment is Noel Clancy, who tragically lost his wife, Geraldine and daughter Louise in December 2015.
The women sadly lost their lives in an accident involving an unaccompanied learner driver.
It is reported that since their death, Noel has been campaigning for a change to the law, so it would make the car owner and driver equally accountable.