A veteran driver has vowed to prove his critics wrong and finally pass his driving test - at the 12th attempt.
Ray Heffernan (63), of Mayfield in Cork, admitted he has found it “very hurtful” to be described as Ireland’s worst driver and stressed he has never caused an accident in more than 40 years of driving in Ireland and the UK.
Heffernan, who has failed 11 driving tests since 2004, will sit his 12th test on July 19 at the Cork city test centre.
He applied for the test last March and has now been informed that his tester will be a regional supervisor with the driving test centre.
He said: “I've had journalists out in my car - and none of them told me I was a bad driver.
Heffernan has failed 11 driving tests since 2004, with the latest disappointment coming on November 10.
He claimed the system was unfair because it didn’t offer an accurate picture of how safe and reliable a driver is.
“There are people out there driving with full licences that are absolutely dangerous on the roads. I have never had an accident - I am a very safe and steady driver,” he said.
On one occasion, Heffernan was given 45 error marks - more than eight times the number required to fail.
“If I was that bad a driver there is no way I should still be alive.”
But Heffernan vowed to keep sitting driving tests until he was awarded his full licence.
He is adamant he has never been involved in an accident in more than four decades of driving.
“I have been driving for more than 45 years, all over Ireland, London, East Anglia, Birmingham and even Scotland,” he said.
“I have heard people say that if you can drive in London you can drive anywhere.
“But for some strange reason I still can't pass a driving test here.”
He has even gone to the District Court to challenge his driving test rulings.
Heffernan's provisional licence is valid until 2013. which allows him two more years of driving in a bid to finally pass his test.
“This whole thing has cost me a small fortune - it’s not cheap to sit a driving test now. But I'll see justice done yet,” he added.
He's hoping that July 19 is the day he finally swaps his green licence for a red one. - Irish Independent