As a Massachusetts driving instructor, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to meet and work with many nice and wonderful people over the years. I’ve had the opportunity to not only do something I love, but to also make a difference in our communities by imparting a skill to others for the well-being of us all.
Yet, when it comes to road testing, things aren’t always so rosy, or even kosher. Another instructor has commented on the exams being "inconsistent." I, however, have been around the block a few more times. Sometimes it’s obvious to me that the unprovable hidden/personal agendas of the Republican "powers-that-be" are taking priority over the well-being of any individual.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles did a great thing by increasing the requirements for those under 18, called "junior operators." And the examiners are pretty good, so, rarely will anyone pass who should not.
The real issue is when those who can drive fail to pass. Of course to an applicant, this is disappointing. But sometimes it’s also devastating/heartbreaking. And to their instructor/sponsor, it can be frustrating and even sickening. Yes, sickening. For this causes unnecessary stress on instructors to do better. A few years ago, it was determined that stress causes disease, and even cancer.
We’re all in this together. So, to help:
A. Keep our roads safe
B. Be considerate of the well-being
C. Curtail possible personal injury
D. Diminish the arrogance of power-mongers
I am recommending and requesting that MassDOT/RMV license, without further qualification except for a class or two, driving instructors with 20,000 hours (approximately 10 years of full-time work) of experience to perform road tests.
A driving school can submit a list of applicants to the RMV for approval of every applicant (and not necessarily the whole list) each week, for the following week’s road tests. This would cut down on month-long waits for road testing.
Because this is new to instructors, each one-hour time slot on the list should contain 20 or 30 minutes at their discretion, for each. The RMV could still charge the $20, only call it an administrative processing fee when tests are given by driving schools. And driving school vehicles must be used for testing, so a sponsor is not necessary but of course still welcome.
Mark William Therrien
Stockbridge
Oct. 24
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