logo
Drivers push to swap US licences for Irish ones amid test backlog

Drivers push to swap US licences for Irish ones amid test backlog

Irish Times05-05-2025
Proposals that would allow people to swap their US or Canadian driver's licences for Irish licences without sitting a driving test have been hailed as 'pragmatic' by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.
A group of people who live in Ireland and hold North American licences have put forward a number of alternatives to sitting the driving test,
due to extensive waiting lists
.
Waiting times for driving tests have risen significantly, with some people
waiting up to 10 months
.
The group's alternatives to sitting the test include requiring these drivers to sit the theory test, requiring them to take 12 driving lessons (up from the current six), and ensuring they have maintained a clean driving record for at least three years.
READ MORE
Gene Kearon, a dual American-Irish citizen, is leading the group's efforts. The 60-year-old was born in the US to Irish parents and spent part of his childhood in Wicklow. He relocated to Gorey last October.
The group has contacted a number of TDs with their proposals. In an email reply sent to Mr Kearon on April 14th, Ms Murphy described the suggestions as 'pragmatic' and said they aligned with the need to maintain road safety while 'reducing pressure' on the
Road Safety Authority
(RSA).
People who move to Ireland and hold a driving licence from countries including the US can drive on Irish roads for up to a year. After this 12-month period, people from certain countries (and certain regions in Canada) can exchange their licence for an Irish one. However, the US is not one of the countries so recognised.
Mr Kearon said he and others 'don't want to compromise Irish road safety', but that the current model does not make sense.
'You're telling me, I arrive on day one and I can drive unfettered throughout the country - why does that change on [day] 366? Wouldn't it be smarter to say, 'Okay, you can drive, but in order for us to give you that licence on day 366, you have to take the 12 lessons that everybody else takes'?'
Mr Kearon has started the process of applying for an Irish driver's licence but has been told it could be September before he can sit his test.
[
Learner drivers face having to start again if they have more than four permits without passing a test
Opens in new window
]
His one-year grace period ends in October. If there is any delay, he could be without a licence, and unable to drive - something which could affect his job. Mr Kearon knows several people in a similar situation and said 'they're all desperate for a solution'.
He said he has been driving for four decades, without a road traffic incident, and believes he is 'unnecessarily taking a spot away from somebody else who's never driven before'.
There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to examine 'reciprocal driving licence arrangements with the USA, Australia and Canada'.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said Ireland has a licence exchange agreement with Australia and seven of the 10 Canadian provinces, but that reaching an agreement with the US is more complicated.
'US driver licensing operates at state, not federal, level. This means that there are 50 licensing systems, with widely varying testing standards and road safety performance.'
A spokesperson for the RSA added that 'agreement with any one state [in the US] would mean taking into account the licence-exchange arrangements between that state and the other 49″. As such, a blanket agreement 'would not be feasible'.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Alex Dunne claims sensational victory in chaotic Grand Prix as Irish teenage prodigy retakes F2 Championship lead
Alex Dunne claims sensational victory in chaotic Grand Prix as Irish teenage prodigy retakes F2 Championship lead

The Irish Sun

time7 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Alex Dunne claims sensational victory in chaotic Grand Prix as Irish teenage prodigy retakes F2 Championship lead

ALEX DUNNE is back on top of the F2 Championship with just five races to go after a sensational victory in a chaotic Belgian GP. The Irish teenager, 19, took a commanding win in treacherous conditions that forced the Formula 3 race to be cancelled. Advertisement 3 Alex Dunne is back on top of the Formula 2 Championship Credit: James Sutton - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images 3 He won the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday Credit: James Sutton - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images 3 The race was bogged down by wet conditions Credit: James Sutton - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images The championship standings where he holds a 15 point lead over Richard Verschoor. It was his third F2 win of the season after success in Bahrain and Imola earlier in the campaign. Disqualification from the Austrian GP led to him dropping to third in the championship but a podium finish in Silverstone and victory in Belgium saw him jump back to the top. The Offaly starlet had to demonstrate all of his immense talent to do so in a race that was plagued by wet conditions. Advertisement Read More on Alex Dunne Rain had lashed on the track on Sunday morning to the extent that the Formula 3 feature was cancelled. Alex Dunne's star has been on the rise since signing for the McLaren Driver Development Program in May 2024. In February, he joined the Rodin Motorsport F2 team and success swiftly followed. In March, he finished ninth in the sprint race in Advertisement Most read in Motorsport That landmark gave him the outright lead in the F2 Championship, a position he reclaimed with a win in Imola in May. It was not all plain sailing, however, as his involvement in an 11-car crash in Barcelona led to Alex Alex Dunne reunites with faily after Formula 1 debut at Austrian GP Dunne responded to the abuse by making a sensational Formula 1 debut, filling in for Dunne was the Advertisement He was not overawed by the occasion as he clocked the fourth fastest time, faster than the likes of Hamilton . Only Oscar Piastri were faster. He was disqualified from the F2 Austrian GP that same weekend but bounced back in style with his fifth podium of the season in Silverstone in July. The 19-year-old is not looking beyond the end of this current season, but has grand designs for what he will have accomplished. Advertisement In an "The best opportunity I am going to give myself to be an F1 driver is by winning F2. I think it is as simple as that. "If I get the opportunities to do another FP1, it will be to do the exact same thing I did in Austria but even better. "If I can continue to improve and do a good job every time I get in the car, that will help my chances." Advertisement

Ireland's Alex Dunne produces masterful wet drive at Spa-Francorchamps to claim victory and move top of F2 Championship
Ireland's Alex Dunne produces masterful wet drive at Spa-Francorchamps to claim victory and move top of F2 Championship

Irish Independent

time7 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

Ireland's Alex Dunne produces masterful wet drive at Spa-Francorchamps to claim victory and move top of F2 Championship

The Offaly native, who had dominated qualifying in dry weather on Friday, delivered a composed drive in challenging conditions to take maximum points and reclaim the lead in the title race. The Belgian track, where Jordan had their first Formula 1 race win when Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher secured a famous one-two in similar conditions 27 years ago, now has another Irish success to add to its storied history. With his main championship rivals starting down the grid, Dunne made the most of his pole position advantage after a formation lap behind the safety car due to the conditions, before a rolling start eventually got the action underway. The McLaren junior managed the early laps well, building a comfortable lead before being called into the pits as his wet tyres began to degrade. Upon rejoining, he came under immediate pressure from Invicta Racing's Roman Stanek, but defended strongly to retain his position as effective race leader. The 19-year-old then found himself behind MP Motorsport's Ollie Goethe, who had yet to pit, but made a superb overtake around the outside to set up what looked like a straightforward run to the finish. However, a late-race safety car bunched up the field with just five laps remaining after Sebastian Montoya aquaplaned and spun across the track before stalling. A further incident behind the safety car when Goethe's engine blew led to the race being red-flagged and declared with one lap to go, confirming Dunne as the winner. Red Bull Junior Arvid Lindblad was second and Czech driver Roman Stanek completed the podium in third. "I had to work really hard for that one," Dunne said afterwards. "It was really tough." The result moves Dunne ahead of Richard Verschoor at the top of the championship standings by 15 points after Verschoor and title rival Jak Crawford both failed to score. There are now five rounds remaining in the season with Dunne returning to action next weekend at the Hungaroring in Budapest as the title battle heats up.

Every motorbike death could be prevented – harrowing stats paint clear picture but safer roads are not beyond our reach
Every motorbike death could be prevented – harrowing stats paint clear picture but safer roads are not beyond our reach

The Irish Sun

time11 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Every motorbike death could be prevented – harrowing stats paint clear picture but safer roads are not beyond our reach

A HARROWING new report has laid bare the major safety risks facing motorcyclists in Ireland every year. The study from the 3 RSA's Sarah O'Connor writes that every motorcyclist death is preventable Credit: RSA 3 Shocking stats show motorcyclists are disproportionately injured or killed Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 And these figures tend to peak during summer Credit: Getty Images - Getty Grim stats show that a further 884 motorcyclists were seriously injured between 2020 and 2024, with an average of 21 deaths annually. Despite making up only a small percentage of road users, motorcyclists continue to account for a disproportionately high number of serious injuries and The disturbing data gives a breakdown of trends identifying the most dangerous times on the roads for users. Serious injuries peaked between May and ­September, particularly in June, and the majority of serious injuries were male. READ MORE IN NEWS Two-thirds of serious ­injuries occurred between 12pm and 8pm, with Sunday the most dangerous day. Here Sarah O'Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the RSA, ­outlines how more needs to be done. Each summer, Ireland's roads welcome a familiar seasonal sight: more motorcyclists taking advantage of longer days and improved Most read in The Irish Sun But this annual increase in two-wheeled traffic comes with a troubling trend. Recent research shows summer as the most dangerous time of year for motorcyclists in Ireland, marked by a consistent rise in serious injuries and fatalities. Major warning for Irish drivers over little-known task as thousands set to renew licence The Road Safety Authority's Motorcyclist Spotlight Report: Fatalities and Serious Injuries 2020–2024 presents a clear and sobering picture. Over five years, 105 motorcyclists lost their lives and 884 were seriously injured. That is an average of 21 deaths and 177 serious injuries each year. These figures are not abstract. They represent human lives, SERIOUS INJURIES DURING SUMMER Motorcyclists accounted for 14 per cent of all road fatalities in Ireland (during the period of the research) and 12 per cent of serious injuries, despite making up a small proportion of overall road users. All recorded fatalities were male, and 65 per cent were aged between 16 and 45. The concentration of risk is consistent - both in demographics and the season - with serious injuries peaking during the In terms of time of day and days of the week - two-thirds of serious injuries occurred between 12pm and 8pm, and half of fatalities occurring at weekends, with Sunday identified as the most dangerous day for serious injuries. Nationwide, rural roads were the location for 74 per cent of motorcyclist deaths. Most serious injuries involved multiple vehicles, most commonly cars or light goods In these collisions, the most frequently recorded driver action was a failure to observe - either by the motorcyclist or the other driver. This underlines the ongoing importance of driver awareness, especially in relation to visibility and the need to check blind spots at junctions or when turning. HARROWING STATS In single-vehicle collisions, loss of control is the most common factor, often on bends or rural roads. These trends are not unique to Ireland. The In 2022, powered twowheeler users (motorcycles and mopeds combined) accounted for approximately 19 per cent of all road fatalities across the European Union, despite being a minority of road users. While total road deaths in the EU have declined by around 20 per cent over the past decade, reductions among motorcyclists have been slower, leading to an increase in their overall share of fatalities. Motorcyclists are disproportionately represented in fatal and Their exposure and vulnerability require a proactive response. For motorcyclists, safe and considered riding remains essential. That includes wearing high-visibility gear and protective clothing, maintaining appropriate speeds, never riding while We are renewing our call for shared responsibility among all road users - particularly at junctions, in slower-moving traffic and when overtaking. The 'life-saver look' - a deliberate check before turning or pulling out - can and does save lives. DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE Each of the 105 motorcyclist deaths recorded in Ireland between 2020 and 2024 represents a preventable tragedy. Behind every statistic is a person is a friend, a family member, a colleague, whose life was cut short. Serious injuries also leave lasting impacts, often resulting in long-term physical, psychological, and While the patterns we're seeing in Ireland are mirrored across Europe, that doesn't mean they're inevitable. These trends reflect choices and behaviours that can be changed. Safer As the season continues, we urge all road users to stay alert, take your time, and pay close attention - particularly around vulnerable road users like motorcyclists. Whether you're behind the wheel, on two wheels, or crossing the street, your actions matter. A moment of carelessness can cost a life. Let's all do our part to ensure every journey ends safely.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store