It will soon be easier for seniors to remain on the road.
The Barbados Licensing Authority (BLA) is going through a major revamp, which Minister of Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill said was akin to a Public Service revolution.
During a media conference on Saturday at the BLA’s Pine, St Michael headquarters, the minister said chief among the changes was removing the “age discrimination barrier” for seniors.
“We have already received Cabinet’s approval to vary the age for which a medical certificate is required from 70 years to 75 years old. In addition, the renewal period [for those aged] 75 to 85 will be moved to two years with a medical certificate being required for every two years, while at age 85 the renewal period would be one year with an annual medical certificate,” he said, adding these changes would take effect when the Road Traffic Act was amended.
Another upcoming initiative was the decentralisation of vehicle inspections. Gooding-Edghill said authorised garages would now be able to issue roadworthy certificates. However, he said further details were unavailable until the Road Traffic Act was amended.
The minister also spoke about a streamlined system to obtain driver’s licences.
“Customers will be allowed to complete and pass the regulation test and schedule an appointment online for their driving test. The learner will have the option to pay for the learner’s permit and the driving test in full or separately, and when the learner passes the test he or she can pay for the requisite years.”
In addition, the minister said Barbadians would also have the option of renewing their licences for up to a decade, though this, too, was dependent on the amendment.
“The ministry sees this series of upgrades as only the beginning of an ongoing set of steps to make life much better for the different publics we serve. Our goal is to make engagement with us, and especially the BLA, free of stress and a comfortable experience.
“This will start the process of eradicating the negative perception far too long publicly associated with the BLA,” he said. (CA)
