Conor Faughnan of the AA said today there is a 'glaring deficiency' in that the teaching of driving is not part of the school curriculum.
Rosemary Smith has been teaching Transition Year students the basics of safe driving in a programme of her own, 'Think Awareness' for many years now, but despite many attempts, has failed to get government backing for a dedicated driving instruction facility.Although she has received strong private backing for such a facility, successive meetings with relevant departments, and even conversations with key ministers, have failed to interest the state in helping out.
She says a dedicated facility, where learner drivers can be safely taught road skills, including how to deal with skids, is absolutely necessary in any programme to cut road deaths.
A new EU study names Ireland as one of the worst countries in Europe for improving road safety.
Brian Byrne.