Here's how many driving tests were axed over rule change
Over 1,200 driving tests have been cancelled in the past two weeks since new rules requiring proof of car insurance came into effect, the Road Safety Authority has revealed.
The regulations were implemented by the RSA earlier this month after driving testers, represented by the trade union Fórsa, had voted for industrial action in January due to concerns that tests were being carried out in uninsured vehicles.
The requirement for candidates to provide a copy of their certificate of insurance has led to 1,237 tests being cancelled between March 9 and last Wednesday.
More than one in ten driving tests during the period could not go ahead, with the RSA stating yesterday that cancelled tests will be prioritised for new appointments.
Over 1,200 driving tests have been cancelled in the past two weeks. Pic: Getty Images
The RSA employs over 190 permanent driver testers and 83% of Fórsa’s members in the job voted in favour of industrial action in early January after a disagreement over whether they were automatically covered by the State Claims Agency’s insurance if they conduct a test in a vehicle that the test candidate is not insured to drive.
The union had called for guaranteed indemnity arrangements and access to the National Insurance Database, arguing that ‘driver testers cannot be expected to get into vehicles to do their jobs when they have no clarity on whether the vehicle is uninsured’.
A spokesman for the RSA stated yesterday that the new insurance rules for driving test candidates had been introduced following ‘ongoing negotiations with trade union representatives to stave off balloted industrial action’.
He said: ‘From March 9, driving test candidates with a booking in place were required to bring evidence that they are insured to drive the vehicle presented for their test,’ he said.
The requirement for candidates to provide a copy of their certificate of insurance has led to 1,237 tests being cancelled between March 9 and last Wednesday. Pic: Getty Images
‘This measure was put in place to address driving tester concerns regarding conducting driving tests with uninsured drivers, which is the point of the ongoing discussions with the union.
‘Candidates have received a direct communication from the RSA informing them of the change.
‘As of March 25, 11% (1,237) of tests have not been conducted due to issues regarding insurance documentation. The RSA is prioritising affected customers with new test dates.’
The spokesman added that before the new requirement to prove car insurance, only 1% of tests failed to go ahead because of an issue over insurance.
Averting a strike by driving testers would have safeguarded progress made during last summer to clear a major backlog for tests slots that saw learner drivers in some parts of the country waiting close to ten months for a test date at their nearest centre.
