OK. The statistics have come out on the provisional driving test and somebody was just on the TV advising the provisional drivers that they need to get tuition and to come to the driving centres for their tests in a good state of preparedness.

That is the real problem. Fewer than 50% of applicants actually pass the test. This is the unacceptable part of the equation. They don’t treat it seriously. They cannot be treating it with the kind of seriousness that it deserves. They are taking the test on the half-chance that they might pass it. This wastes time and makes the waiting list unacceptably long. Now, of course, more money could be chucked at it by the government, but why should it? I would object to more resources being put into a service that is not being taken seriously.

What they need to do is put on a few ads. Tell people that they need to up-skill their driving and only when they are ready should they take the test.

What Dempsey did this week was the right thing to do - everybody has known for years that this was going to happen. I fell precious little sympathy. If somebody has had a driving licence, then they have had sufficient time to get a full licence. Period. They have. If they didn’t get the test, then they really, really need help and supervision and shouldn’t be let out on their own.

I feel the back-down is yet another example of the hypocracy of how we interact with politicians. We elect them, pat them on the back and say ‘do the right thing’….that is until they do something we find uncomfortable and then we cry like babies make them do the wrong thing or else we will vote them out of office.

Tough business, really.