Cork city reports a 63% rise in unaccompanied learner drivers caught by Gardai, raising safety concerns and prompting calls for parental vigilance.
Recent stats show a big jump in unaccompanied learners. In 2023, 117 fixed charge notices were issued. In 2024, that number rose to 191.
The number of learners not displaying L-plates also increased. It went from 58 to 83 during the same time.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, an MEP, urges parents to be more watchful. She says inexperienced drivers can lead to more accidents.
Driving without supervision can result in four penalty points and a €160 fine. Not showing L-plates adds two more points and a €120 fine.
The number of vehicles seized from unaccompanied learners also rose. It jumped from 66 to 115 in Cork city.
Recently, a vehicle was taken at a checkpoint in Midleton. The driver tested positive for drugs.
This isn’t the first time this has happened. Last November, a similar case occurred in Midleton.
Interestingly, fixed charge notices for speeding dropped slightly in Cork city. They went from 1,995 to 1,994.
Cork city is now the third-worst area for unaccompanied learner drivers. Dublin regions lead with 408 and 324 notices issued.
By January 29, 12 deaths on Irish roads were reported in 2025. This morning, another man died in a crash in West Cork.
