Dear editor,
I’m old, unhappy and trounced on by the Motor Vehicle Branch and ICBC.
For 40 years, I drove well and never had an accident. Then I became 80 and had to take the computerized screening test. I failed, as did 85 per cent of seniors in B.C. taking the test.
Coincidentally, my husband died suddenly a few days before my test. Possibly my grief had something to do with me failing the test.
Never mind, I was told, you can take the test again; get your name on the list. “We’ll not charge you seniors the $336 to take the test,” I was told, but you may have to wait awhile.
And so I have waited. I made phone calls to the superintendent of motor vehicles, I wrote nice letters saying I hoped my name was coming to the top of the list for a driving test.
“Your car insurance will run out,” I was told. “You’ll have to reinsure it, so you can out it in a safe parking area. Phone, write again, wait some more. Take buses, taxis, bum rides, but be patient.”
Finally, I made it under the wire and I can have a test on Oct. 24. Thank you so much, ICBC and MV Branch. I waited only one year.
E. Wiegerinck,
Courtenay