The Road to Hell

Many government agencies show contempt for personal freedoms and none more so than in the case of the DVLA.

While the environmentalists among us may cheer the decreasing access to cars, the DVLA has become one of the biggest barriers to modern independence and prosperity.

Currently, new drivers have to wait months to receive even basic documentation like a provisional license; those with medical conditions wait much longer! As one report in The Guardian put it: “The driving license renewal problems appear to particularly affect those without a valid passport, or an application that requires manual intervention.” No surprise there then. 

“The driving license renewal problems appear to particularly affect those without a valid passport, or an application that requires manual intervention.”

This writer would submit that just as the government has no right to stop you leaving your home, neither do they have the right to deny you access to an essential skill like driving and the opportunity to work and roam that it brings. Increasing government interference and extortion on the roads has lead to less-safe vehicles on the road, increasing fuel costs, failing roads, banal policing and now the complete denial to millions at the chance to improve their lot.

The problem of the backlog, originating from usual government inefficiency, has been perpetuated by the targeted action of PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) who claim:

“We are asking all PCS members in drivers medical, the department which decides whether drivers who have medical conditions are fit to drive safely, take strike action over Covid safety. Drivers medical was chosen due to its strategic importance to the agency and the fact that ministers are assigning huge importance to the backlogs in this area.”

To this writer, this is a clear example of targeted discrimination from a government agency.

While on the subject of roads: once drivers do fulfil the bureaucratic labyrinth, they are faced with mediocre planning and continued disruption caused by inadequate roads. Who is responsible for the roads? Quango supremos Transport Scotland, “an agency of the Scottish Government…accountable to Parliament and the public through Scottish Ministers.” One of their top priorities with their c. £3billion budget is for “increased safety and innovation” – could’ve fooled me! The groups other aims include “better journey times” (yet they impose increasing speed limits), “greener transport alternatives” and “reduced emissions”. It doesn’t inspire much confidence that they are focused on maintaining roads; instead it reads like a manifesto aimed at spending c. £3billion of our money getting people OFF the roads.

For now, drivers can only hope that their license comes through before the Red Conservatives in Westminster, assisted by the watermelons in Holyrood, take another chunk of choice from our lives when 2030 rolls around.

 


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