EDITORS NOTE: Retesting drivers could be a good thing
If you had to redo your driver's license, do you think you would pass?
The Department of Transport has drafted an amendment to the driver’s licence renewal process, which includes the retesting of motorists’ driving abilities.
I am on the fence on this one – in many ways it will be a good thing, but it could also be a complete disaster.
Obtaining your driver’s licence is already a very frustrating process, which means standing in long queues and forking out a lot of money. Booking your learner’s licence involves holding on the phone for hours, waiting for an available date, and then when you eventually get to do your driver’s test you have to go through the whole process again.
The Traffic Department is also very corrupt resulting in people having to retake their driver’s licence tests over and over again until they finally give in and pay the instructor a bribe.
On the other hand, this new amendment will help root out bad drivers – who most likely obtained their driver’s licence by paying a bribe. I also think that many motorists have forgotten the rules of the road and this will be a good reminder for them.
I agree that a simple eye-test every five years is not sufficient to renew your driver’s licence because this does not ensure that you are a responsible and capable driver.
Road accidents on our roads are a massive problem and perhaps this new regulation will prevent and decrease the fatalities on our roads.
If this amendment is passed, I wonder how many taxi drivers will actually pass their driver’s licence.
What are your thoughts?
