The ICBC "Dumpster Fire"

So why do we have so many bad drivers?

The last time I renewed my license I found it appalling to look around and observe all the various languages that were ‘available’ to those applying.  Last I checked, Canada had only two official languages and only those two are used in road signage.  What’s wrong with this picture?  It’s not about discrimination if it’s a ‘privilege’  - not a ‘right.’  And given the recent news coverage of the cheating in the service centres, how many licenses are flippantly issued under this scenario?   

ICBC has to be more strict on the applications and follow up on the repeat offenders.  I’ve driven since 1975 and had one speeding ticket and one left-turn violation, never caused an accident or been involved in one.  

For your information, Canada is a country made up of both indigenous peoples (for whom neither English or French would be their native tongue) and immigrants from around the world. This is who we are.

And believe it or not, but people around the world manage to drive even if they can't speak English or French. It's true!

Perhaps next time you drive, you might pay more attention to the road signs around you. You might notice, for instance, that for many years words on road signs have been replaced by symbols, for easy recognition. Open your eyes, and you might notice that even the One Way street signs don't say One Way on them any more! 

And given the recent news coverage of the cheating in the service centres, how many licenses are flippantly issued under this scenario?

Flippantly, eh?

Here is the situation in BC, for your information. At one time, license applicants were allowed to use an Interpreter to do their Knowledge tests. But ICBC realized that although, on average, there will be an 80% Pass / 20% Fail rate on these tests, the Pass rate for those using an Interpreter was essentially 100%. Figure it out - they did.

And that's why these days they have Knowledge Tests available in a multitude of languages! It's to eliminate the need for an Interpreter. It's to ensure that the Applicant is being tested on their knowledge of driving, rather than their knowledge of English - and that if they pass, they did it on their own.

Your ignorance is exceeded only by your prejudice.

CompetentDriving added something to my knowledge today as per usual, thank you!
Interesting to see that the interpreter assisted exams are so much more likelier to pass. But in their defense, what if all English based tests were done with an "Interpreter" that would aid the test taker's English comprehension. We know that English comprehension is down among the English speaking students across Canada and the USA compared to the years prior. And the knowledge test presents several questions that have some very similar answers, only one of which is correct, and grammar may be the only difference.

To Leisa, I have say that just like playing badminton or baking a cake does not require a specific language to convey the instructions driving skill is not based on a particular language. An argument against providing these tests in multiple languages can be made from the social services perspective - it costs more and we the taxpayers would like to limit the costs of public services. Or from the immigration perspective - we the citizens & immigrants who accepted that Canada has 2 official languages and taken the plunge to learn at least one of these languages in order to assimilate are protesting the fact that the Gov enables new immigrants to get access to public services in non-official languages thereby limiting their need to assimilate. But in no way is the driving skill dependent on any particular language.

Personally, as an immigrant myself, who has learned the language and the traditions and laws of the Canadian system, who adopted the duties and responsibilities of a Canadian citizen, I am a little disappointed that more than half of the people in my immediate locality are virtually non English speaking. And I am extremely aghast that the Gov is enabling all sorts of non-assimilation behaviors. I came to Canada last millennium before the "diversity is our strength" took over the immigration policy. Immigrants were expected to learn the language and get a job. I've never received any social assistance as an immigrant and have never been on welfare, and I paid taxes to the Gov every year since I got a job at 18 years old. But I believe that very few more-recent immigrants come with the same convictions to truly become Canadian and contribute - they are just doing and arguing for things that basically allow them not to integrate, not pay any taxes, receive maximum benefits and give nothing in return.

No needy to be nasty.   Calling people ignorant and prejudice simply depicts a reflection of yourself.  

You took my question/comment too personally.  And your rhetoric had no argument to reference why we have so many bad drivers.  

Again, driving is a privilege, some have taken to interpret it as a “right.”  We need to be more strict on issuing licenses and the process and get those repeat offenders off the road.

In the marine world, the COLREGs (collision regulations) have a General Prudential Rule that requires all vessel operators to follow all the rules, but also to take whatever action is necessary to avoid a collision, even if it means breaking another one of the rules.

If BC's Motor Vehicle Act included a General Prudential Rule, driving defensively would become mandatory, and drivers would be required to do whatever is feasible to avoid a collision. I think a paradigm shift like this would go a long way to reducing the number and severity of collisions, thus reducing claims and lowering insurance rates.

I've written a more comprehensive blog on this subject.