New driving laws, which will come into effect later this year, will have serious effects on elderly drivers, according to a local councillor.

Headford-based councillor Michael Carey has expressed concern at the new 'learner permit' regulations, which will affect anyone driving on a provisional driving licence.

According to Cllr Carey, the new regulations will cause problems for elderly people living in rural areas who may have been driving on a provisional licence for some years.

"Some older drivers started driving late in life - of necessity in many cases - through the illness or death of a partner perhaps or their children having moved away from the family home, and have been driving locally on provisional licences for years.

"These are people who have driven carefully and have no desire to drive on motorways or on congested roads at rush hour. They simply want to be able to drive the few miles down the road to the local shops, post office, bank, church or doctor and perhaps drop into a friend for a chat on the way home as part of their daily routine," he said.

The Headford-based councillor also said he had been contacted by many such drivers over the past few weeks, pointing out that the requirement that they are accompanied by a fully qualified driver is not feasible in their circumstances, and that going through the procedure of a driving test would be too stressful for them. "In short, many feel marginalised under the new system and feel that they are being forced off the roads entirely," he stated.

Subject to the usual medical tests at 70 years of age, Carey suggests the introduction of a 'local licence' or 'restricted licence' for experienced older drivers in rural areas if they wish to avail of it.

"Such a system would restrict them to driving within a certain, practical radius of their home during certified times in the day and in the absence of a rural public transport system, would remove the necessity of relying on the goodwill of their friends and neighbours to help them carry out their daily chores," he suggested.

He pointed out that some states in the USA, facing the same social problem, have introduced this type of system with considerable success.

"If we really are the all-inclusive society that we like to boast about, then I think it is a system that should be examined as it would help older drivers maintain their mobility and independence for longer than they would under existing arrangements, without compromising road safety," he concluded.

Age Action West spokesperson, Eamon Timmins, said many people living in rural areas where there is no rural transport need their cars for survival; to go to the post office to collect their pension, to the local shop for food and the local doctor and pharmacy.

The charity, which works on behalf of elderly people, said it would support proposals similar to those made by Cllr Carey of a 'restricted licence', but added that the real problem was caused by an absence of rural transport services.

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