Take test or give up car

Published: 2 July, 2010

• MARY Cosh has now enlisted the support of MP Emily Thornberry in her campaign to avoid a driving test (MP calls for U-turn on driving re-sit, June 25).

But surely her demand to know precisely why she has been ordered to re-sit her test is a red herring.

Was it the police report for driving erratically and not stopping at the scene of an accident?

Or a less than ringing doctor’s endorsement, given her admitted disabilities, after her subsequent medical examination? Quite possibly, it was both together. 

Fact is, Ms Cosh’s real fear is that she will fail and lose the use of her car.

She may think this is unfair, as Islington has plenty of worse drivers, but if she wants the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to take pity on her and think again, because of her age, driving record and academic distinction, she should come out and say so.

Neither a police report nor a medical examination is an actual measure of someone’s ability and judgement at the wheel of a car.

A driving test is; that is what it is designed for. 

London is a demanding place to drive in and responsible road users should think critically about their capacity to avoid harm to themselves or cause harm to others.

No one likes to be called a poor driver, but where there are reasons to think that age, infirmity or medication may have significantly impaired the essential reflexes needed to drive safely, a repeat driving test is no more than common sense.

Ms Cosh should either take the test, or give up driving graciously. 

R Rhodes
N7

• NICE to know that knowing Emily Thornberry constitutes a reason for having the re-sit of your driving test queried. “Should she fail, Ms Cosh faces becoming housebound or reliant on expensive minicabs.” Should she fail, she shouldn’t be driving.

MARY PACHNOS                   
EC1

• I WAS glad to read MP Emily Thornberry has picked up the gauntlet for Islington historian Mary Cosh.

To me, it matters not what political colour corner an MP is fighting out of as long as they are fighting injustice and on the side of righteousness.

To say the police attitude to Mary was over the top is a gross understatement.

I wonder what would have been the police  response had, while following Mary, a child run out from between parked cars on that day with fatal results? “That they were in hot pursuit,” no doubt.

What next? Armed response?

So well done, Ms Thornberry. And what’s  more, Mary has a far better driving record than the Met.
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