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More than a week ago, the Government Emergency Commission (EMC) made a proposal to resume driving tests. However, on Wednesday, Regitra announced that test drives are unlikely to resume until the end of March.
“Once the government decides to extend the quarantine and the existing restrictions on practice exams, they will not yet be renewed in the Registry. Currently, practice exams are suspended until March 31, but this date may change later. that the Government has taken individual decisions on the relaxation of quarantine conditions, ”Regitra reported on Wednesday.
There was outrage
As soon as Regitrai spread this message, there was a real storm on social media. Hundreds of future drivers have filled the Regitra Facebook group, speeding up the tests with messages.
No less complaints were sent by future hosts to tv3.lt journalists. A large proportion of readers report experiencing serious inconvenience.
For example, for reader Andrew, the driving test was canceled for the fourth time. The guy tells the portal that he had to go abroad to work, but because Regitra is still canceling the driving test, Andrius lost his job offer. The guy’s job would have required a driver’s license.
After losing an interesting job offer abroad, Andrius got a job in Lithuania and currently works in the construction sector.
“But here there are also difficulties, how do I get to the object where I have to work? Since the workplace is unstable, we finish one object, we go to another, it is often necessary to take a taxi to a co-worker who can go to the object, ”writes Andrius from tv3.lt.
Another tv3.lt reader, Samanta, writes that in this situation he sees inequality and a kind of discrimination: “Paradoxically, taxi services, buses are overcrowded and people are seen in a positive light. I’m not referring to the fact that there are hair salons, various beauty services and live contact. It’s kind of funny, but it’s also sad that you don’t want to see this strange situation logically. “
Samanta has been waiting for a driving test for three months. She says he notes that authorities are still hoping that the exams will resume, but that is not happening.
“Many of those who are waiting for driving and rights exams do not need to spend time in a group of friends or some cheap party after quarantine, but to be able to work and feed their children,” says Samanta.
Keep the car in a safe place
The situation of Jurgita Kuliešienė, president of the Lithuanian Association of Schools for Driver Training and Professional Development, is also not gratifying. The association president says failed driving tests and stagnant driver training will soon lead to long lines, and it may not be easy to eliminate the problem.
“It just came to our attention then. Schools don’t find human resources that quickly, there is no very attractive profession here, it is hard enough for schools to find a driving instructor. Even a training car will not be available that quickly. We believe that there will be a challenge. The longer this activity is not carried out, the more difficult it will be for schools to balance with the queues, “says J. Kuliešienė on tv3.lt.
In the groups of future drivers on social networks, offers have been repeated to offer driving lessons or exams in cars with special plastic partitions for both the student and the instructor. Regitra has installed partitions in their cars, but J. Kuliešienė says that this is not a sure way to solve the problem.
“When we teach a person who does not have all the skills to drive safely, we cannot install a blind barrier. The instructor or examiner must be able to hold the steering wheel if a person maneuvers incorrectly. We think it is impossible in terms of safety, “says J. Kuliešienė.
According to the representative of the driving schools, cars are disinfected and ventilated between lessons, and after the resumption of driving school activities, another safety measure could be applied: perform rapid tests for coronavirus before boarding the car.
“In general, there have been no critical points in driving schools, in no case do we know how much activity was allowed both during the first quarantine and now for massive cases of infection. This is an individual service, an individual contact, and those risks are minimal, ”says J. Kuliešienė.
J. Kuliešienė says that throughout the pandemic a number of problems arose for future drivers. During the first and second quarantines, Regitra and the driving school started working at different times.
During the first quarantine, Regitra was able to resume operations earlier and schools were unable to work. During the second quarantine, the situation was reversed: Regitra could not work.
J. Kuliešienė says that this is due to the fact that schools and Regitra belong to different categories of economic entities: Regitra as a service provider and driving schools as education.
Host a rally
Future social media movers offer ideas on how to get the state’s attention to the issue. There were ideas to go out, to apply to the responsible authorities in writing.
Prospective drivers wrote a petition in early February asking them to resume their driving tests before March 1. The petition was signed by more than 1,500 potential drivers.
According to the portal tv3.lt, people waiting for a driving test are planning a rally throughout Lithuania.
“Out of desperation and a long wait, people want to demonstrate against the government’s decision. There are people who cannot go to work, get a job because they do not have the right to do so, take the children to daycare, or even go to the store to do the shopping ”, says one of the organizers of the rally.
Exam renewal: in scenario C.
The Interior Ministry says that the current epidemiological situation makes the issue of the resumption of driving schools and the Regitra very difficult.
“However, we see the issue of renewing driving tests as a priority. We understand that people, for a variety of reasons, including very serious concerns, want to take practice tests as soon as possible, so we look for possible solutions and do Suggestions to the Government VESK had submitted such a proposal to the Government for its consideration, but due to the increase in the number of diseases, this release could not be accepted, ”the ministry sent in a comment sent by tv3.lt.
The ministry’s plans are already clear: “At the moment, it is planned that the practical exams can be renewed for 150-200 cases out of 100,000 cases. population and 4%. As part of the positive tests, these criteria are established in the plan to change the restrictions of the quarantine regime. It is also necessary to guarantee a greater scope of public tests at the national level.
Currently, the figure is 244.9.
After the resumption of the practice exams, it is planned to extend the working day
Practice tests have been suspended until March 31, but this date may change as the government makes individual decisions to relax the quarantine conditions. Currently, future Regitra drivers can register for practice exams from April 1. If the decision is made to resume the practice exams earlier, Regitra will inform clients about this on the website and on social media.
Regitra advises that, if necessary, the drivers could be tested for longer than usual.
“As for the future, when the relaxation of the quarantine requirements allows the practice exams to resume, in the first few months they will be received essentially by the same people who planned to do so during the quarantine period. It is also important to note that if necessary and In order to regulate flows, the company plans to take exams for longer or on additional days. Regitra can accept around 11 thousand people per month throughout Lithuania. Practice exams. This number can also increase with longer exams or days additional ”, reads Regitra’s comment on tv3.lt.
Regitra regrets the inconvenience and says he is ready to resume the practical tests: “We hope the situation in the country improves and we can do it soon.”
The validity of the theoretical exam results is extended
Regitra informs that theoretical examinations are currently being carried out to guarantee the security and flow management requirements.
A result of a normally positive theoretical test is valid for one year and during this period it is necessary to pass a practice test, but due to a pandemic this period is extended. In other words, for all potential drivers for whom a positive theoretical test result has passed or will expire during an emergency, its validity extends for the period of the declaration of the emergency and for another 6 months after its completion.
“It should be noted that we are not talking about a quarantine period, but rather an emergency situation that lasts longer in the country. As you know, the state-level emergency in the country was declared in 2020. on February 26, and it is unknown when it will end.
Therefore, even though practice tests are currently suspended due to quarantine restrictions, all future drivers have the opportunity to pass the exam later, ”writes Regitra.
In total, around 10.9 thousand practice tests are currently being dropped. persons.
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