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This story has got me going -- again! Now, I recognize that the roads are crazy out there. I drive the highways of the Toronto area most weekdays, during rush hour, before rush hour and after rush hour. I have seen just about everything imaginable on the roads. Yes, there are many poor drivers. Many take far too many risks, and are in far too much of a rush to get one car length closer to their destination.
Do you really think taking another driver's test will cure them of their uptight, aggressive personality?
Because really, that is what makes people drive the way they do. It's not because they can't be "good" drivers for a short period of time, you know, the time it takes to complete the driver's test. As soon as it is done they will be back to their old habits again.
I have heard that their have been allegations of testers "on the take". Licenses are being bought, not earned. Let's face it, the driving instructors are not making huge money, and if someone is willing to pay a large sum of money so a "relative" can get their license, I suppose it would be difficult to blame them for turning a blind eye to a few minor infractions during a driver's test. I'm not excusing the action, just trying to see the reasoning behind it.
Retesting anyone over the age of say, 55 every 5 years might be a good thing. I know that many older drivers are the better drivers, however, there are quite a few who also have dwindling reflexes, and ailments that make it more and more difficult to check blindspots and practice some of the safe driving habits most of us were taught when we were young. I'm not saying that the older drivers are the ones that are causing the accidents (I doubt seriously that they are), however, I really don't think that retesting the 30-something crowd or over 40 bunch will yield any results. Most know the rules of the road and safe driving habits, they just choose to either ignore them, or feel their driving abilities do not warrant them heeding safe, sound, driving habits.
In my estimation, a retesting program is just another waste of the taxpayers' money. The number of accidents will not reduce, and the insurance companies will continue to find ways and reasons for increasing the premiums. Of course, the insurance companies will continue to yield decent returns to their shareholders because that is the true mandate of corporations in North America. Keep the shareholders happy with higher dividends.
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