Irish leaner drivers are set to pay €600 extra in insurance costs as the backlog of driving test applications grows to 85,000 people.
Learners pay higher insurance
The problem is, of course, that for almost everyone, their cost of insurance falls dramatically when their L plates come off, but with the COVID-caused backlog of tests, which stretches into next year, that's going to be a problem for many. Irish insurance website Coverinaclick says that some 50,000 drivers will be hit by extra insurance costs as they can't take their tests.
Before the first lockdown, the waiting time for a test application to actually taking the test was about six weeks on average. Since then it has been more than seven months. All driver testing was suspended in the original lockdown, and since then tests have been conducted at around 3,000 drivers per week, rather than the 4-4,500 drivers per week pre-COVID. Now that we're in the second lockdown, those tests will be reduced again, limited only to those who are designated as key workers.
Instructors should grade learners for pass or fail
Coverinaclick reckons that there is a solution, though, and that's to get driving instructors, rather than official testers, to follow the lead of Leaving Cert teachers and pass or fail learners on the basis of the lessons that they've taken.
Deirdre McCarthy, Manager with Coverinaclick.ie, described how the temporary initiative could work in practice: "Of the 85,000+ drivers on the wait list, approximately 24,000 of them are actually on the Essential Driver Training wait list. This list is mostly made of young drivers who are already paying high prices for their insurance.
"These drivers have not yet completed their 12 lessons, but are in the process of doing so with a view to then taking their test. We are suggesting that Approved Driving Instructors, who have been categorised as essential workers for this lockdown, could be asked to complete a detailed assessment after each of the 12 lessons, which they would then submit, on a confidential basis, to the Road Safety Authority stating whether they believe that the person is fully competent. The RSA could then consider their report and decide whether to grant that person a full licence. According to the RSA, the current pass rate for those taking the driving test is 55.2 per cent, so we would expect the pass rate for this process to be similar" said McCarthy. "While not ideal, this calculated grade style system seems to be one of very few feasible options to tackle a problem that is only going to get much worse. The RSA has already stated how difficult it is to apply the necessary COVID protocols in the driving test environment and it is widely accepted that these protocols will be in place for at least another six months.
Premium reductions of €300 to €600
"Drivers who pass their test are typically rewarded with premium reductions of between €300 and €600 at their next renewal, because they are able to get competitive quotes from several more insurers. Unfortunately, for the 50,000 plus drivers who would likely have passed their test between March and October, and the others who will now have their test cancelled, a significant number will not see these reductions if their insurance renewal date arrives before their test date. Most insurers will give a pro-rata refund if a person passes their test mid-term. But many drivers are simply unaware of this, so we are advising them to check the insurers refund policy in this regard before renewing and to subsequently flag it with their insurer as soon as they have passed their test.
"The current situation is completely untenable - only some weeks ago driving instructors were picketing because when they accompanied their student to their test, they were not allowed access to any of the facilities at the test centre, while they wait for their car to be returned. The rationale behind this can be understood - but it's really no way to proceed. Some action needs to be taken now to alleviate some of the pressure the driving test centres are under, and to facilitate drivers to demonstrate that their proficiency on the road within a reasonable timeframe".