Regular renewal of drivers licences, together with all the costs involved, have become another (there are lots!) government, money spinning scam ... not to forget a creator of another layer of non value adding employment.
There are many people employed in this process, both directly and indirectly ... from officials to fixers. For the man in the street it is just a hassle ... and waste of time and money.
Gone are the days of getting a drivers licence and having it for life. I think that my first drivers licence was valid for about 40 years. And the first renewal wasn't as a result of failing health or reaching some significant milestone age.
It was for everyone who had a licence for five years.
Since then its been the same rigmarole every five years. Some arbitrary eye test or medical examination, fill in some forms and, most importantly, pay your money.
In South Africa it is a source of annuity income for the Shaik family. Possibly in gratitude for the "donations" they had very kindly made to the new ruling elite.
I have recently obtained a Philippines driving licence. The most surprising thing about the office that I went to is that there is virtually no public parking in the vicinity of the office. People are going there to get drivers licences! Drive - car - parking ... isn't this a logical connection?
Fortunately the company representative who took me has a friend working at a service station located a few hundred metres away.
Another feature of this licencing process that I found interesting is that you are required to have a drug test which is done by providing a urine sample. The process is all very proper as you step into a small restroom "sir, please do not close the door". But if I was a drug user wouldn't I stop for a few days before? Take the test. Provide a clean sample and then resume my habit?
Anyway that is now over for 3 years, and apart from now having a slightly altered surname all should be good.
Sunday 8 December 2013
Driving Home in the Evening - Mactan Island Cebu Phlippines
I made this video the other night as I was driven home from our factory situated in one of the Mactan island economic development zones (MEPZII) to our house which is in a subdivision about 4k's away.
Being piloted through the tricycles, bicycles, cars, pedestrians and some wheel gobbling potholes ... plus the odd dog or goat by Maning - my trusty driver of the last two months. This video gives you some idea what a journey like this is like. It will also give you some idea why my driving has been limited to weekend day times as I slowly immerse myself into a very different driving mindset.
The drive is made longer by the fact that the factory is on one side of the airport and we live on the other side. Initially the drive is down a reasonably wide road that tht would normally take two lanes each way but here has dynamic contra flow!!
No one indicates and if a tricycle spots a prospective customer they will just stop. Very few traffic lights are functional and to cross an intersection you just creep until the oncoming traffic has no option but to stop!!
From this reasonably wide road we turn off into a road which can just take two lanes of cars. However it is also occupied by the same combination of bicycles, pedestrians (a lot more) as well as dogs (many) and the odd goat or cow. Pedestrians generally walk with their backs to the traffic - leaving it up to the drivers not to smack into them.
This whole system is made possible by a unique combination of patience, trust and delicate driving skills.
It is certainly a unique experience.
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