Your first driving test is now a couch potato affair.
### That’s not how I remember it
Good morning from the Valley — the fields are talking, the rivers are moving, and we've got stories from five communities that matter. And honestly, this one had me shaking my head a little. ICBC, our very own crown corporation, just announced that folks applying for their learner's license can now take the knowledge test online. From home, on their couch, probably in their pyjamas. No more trekking out to the ICBC office down by Sumas Way, or even up to the Clearbrook Road location. Just you, your computer, and the open road... virtually.
Now, I remember my own L-test. My Dad, bless his heart, had me studying the Motor Vehicle Act like it was the Gurbani. We went over every section, every sign, every single rule. Then he drove me into the city, specifically to the old Abbotsford ICBC office, and I sat there, stomach churning, taking that paper test. It felt like a rite of passage, you know? Like you earned that L. Part of me thinks this online thing makes it a bit too easy. Are we going to have folks who've never even *seen* a round-about in real life passing the test from their kitchen table?
Here's why this matters out here in the Valley:
* **Convenience:** For families in places like Yarrow or Matsqui, it means less time driving into town, which is a real plus. * **Access:** It could help people who struggle with transportation or have mobility issues. * **Road Readiness:** My big question remains: does convenience outweigh the value of showing up, in person, ready to prove you understand the rules of the road that keep us all safe on Highway 1 and beyond?
We've got so many young drivers out here learning on our rural roads, navigating farm equipment and berry trucks. I just hope this change doesn't mean less prepared drivers are getting behind the wheel. We need folks who truly understand the responsibility, not just how to click the right answer on a screen.
Harpreet Gill-Thiessen, MiTL Sports Desk, Abbotsford.
My folks on the Morning Wire team will have a lot to say about this – catch them live at mornings.live.