Driving license renewal
LTA licensing policy for seniors
I THOUGHT only lawyers asked brilliant questions until I went to the LTA office to renew my license. For comparison, this is an example from the internet of actual questions a lawyer had asked.
Lawyer: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? Doctor: No.
Lawyer: Did you check for blood pressure? Doctor: No.
Lawyer: Did you check for breathing? Doctor No.
Lawyer: So, then, it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy? Doctor: No.
Lawyer: How can you be so sure, Doctor? Doctor: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Lawyer: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless? Doctor: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.
It has been almost six years since I turned 70. Since then I have had to obtain a medical certificate which is fine. But then the LTA staff said that she had to interview me so she can submit a report to her superior at the main office that I was competent enough to drive. This is how the interview went.
LTA staff: “So why are you applying for a license?” Me: I guess I want to drive.
LTA staff: I know but why do you want to drive?” Me: So I can go from Point A to Point B.”
LTA staff: What do you mean?” Me: Let me put it to you this way. I live in Martintar. That is point A. New World is in Votualevu. That is point B. If my wife asks me to get some groceries from there, I figure it is too long of a walk, especially with the list of groceries I have to get. So it makes sense if I drove.”
LTA staff: Any other reason you drive?” Me: “Yes, my wife’s family lives in Timbuctoo and we go there every weekend.”
LTA staff: “Sir, please put the request in writing.” Me: The fact that I am applying for a driving license means I want to drive. So why should I have to put a request in writing? Do people under 70 do this?”
LTA staff: Sir, this is company policy.” Me: So tell me this, if I have to drive to Lautoka and it is not listed in my request, will I have to write another request?” LTA staff: I am not sure. I will check with my boss.”
The geniuses at LTA have come up with another mind-boggling policy for seniors. Anyone over 70 will now have to take a driving test to get a license. I feel that people over 60 are more cautious about driving – following the traffic rules. It is the younger ones who are more reckless and a hazard to other drivers – speed demons who routinely run the red light, overtake when it is unsafe to do so, do not put on seatbelts or are on their phones while driving.
I am not sure what she told her boss but I got a call the next day and was told to go the LTA office and pick up my license.
ARVIND MANI
Nadi