OVER 130 unaccompanied drivers in Donegal have had their vehicles seized in the two years since new motoring legislation came into force.
The road traffic laws – which make it an offence for the owner of a vehicle to knowingly allow an unaccompanied learner or an unlicensed person to drive their vehicle – were enacted on this day in 2018 following a sustained campaign sparked by Cork man Noel Clancy.
Since the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act came into place, a total of 134 learner drivers in Donegal have had vehicles seized by gardaí – 76 last year and 58 to October this year.
The ‘Clancy Amendment’ was brought into legislation by the previous transport minister, Shane Ross, and was introduced following the deaths of Geraldine Clancy and her daughter Louise, who died in a crash involving an unaccompanied learner driver in Cork on December 22, 2015.
The driver was subsequently given a three year suspended sentence.
Under the Clancy Amendment, the owner of a seized vehicle must pay €125 to retrieve it plus €35 for every extra day it remains in storage.
Unaccompanied learners who are detected receive two penalty points and €80 fine.
On the second anniversary of the new laws, Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said, “We cannot emphasise enough the importance of complying with this legislation.
“Mechanically propelled vehicles in inexperienced or unlicensed hands have the potential to severely or even fatally injure someone. An Garda Síochána will continue to enforce legislation that will improve road safety for all.
“Under the ‘Clancy Provision’ Learner or unlicensed drivers who choose to ignore this legislation will have their car seized and owners who allow their vehicle to be used will now face prosecution.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)