Sir, A While the long awaited introduction of a MOT type test for motor vehicles is to be welcomed, why has the Government focused its attention on the quality of the means of transport but not the quality of the driving abilities of the motorist behind the wheel?
It seems strange that a country with such a high accident and - more disturbingly - high death on the roads, allows people who have not passed a driving test to drive, unaccompanied, on the roads. To make matters worse, before you take your first test you are deemed to be a potential danger to other road users and so must be accompanied. Having satisfied a driving examiner that your driving skills are so appalling that you still pose a potential danger to life, limb and all of our vehicular insurance premiums, the Government then allows you to drive unaccompanied and without restriction, as if you had passed the test.
I know that the Government's response will be that failed motorists will have to pass a test within a period of time in order for their provisional licences to be renewed. But can we really allow unqualified people to be in charge of a ton weight of vehicle, driving at speeds of up to 60 mph (and usually more)?
Never mind, I am sure that it will be of immense comfort to injured roadusers to know that at least the other vehicle involved in the accident had passed a Government approved test - which, in certain cases, is more than can be said of the driver! - Yours, etc.,
Headfort Road,
Kells, Co Meath.