SGI is resuming road testing for drivers working in healthcare and agriculture by using a modified procedure that involves dash cameras and trailing vehicles.
The plan is to start within the province’s larger centres on May 11, doing a maximum of 140 test per week.
By early June, the number of tests will increase to 320 per week, with Humboldt and Tisdale included as testing locations.
Testing is available initially only to people working in healthcare and agriculture. As capacity allows, SGI said it will contact the approximately 4,500 people outside of those sectors to re-schedule appointments that were cancelled.
“We recognize that some people have a pressing need for a driver’s licence,” said Kwei Quaye, SGI’s vice-president of traffic safety.
“Healthcare workers are providing essential care and we need to ensure they can operate the required vehicles or drive to work or other locations to provide important medical services. Agriculture has been deemed critical to ensure food production continues; seeding is underway and having drivers to support this sector helps ensure a secure food supply chain.”
SGI said to keep both the applicant and examiner from being exposed, the examiner will follow behind the student in a trail vehicle.
Class 5 applicants will be accompanied by a supervising driver who lives in the same household, so there will be no additional exposure risk for the applicant or the examiner. The supervising driver is there as a safety precaution only, and cannot assist the applicant with the test. Class 4 and 2 applicants who hold a valid Class 5 licence do not require a supervising driver.
Driving instructions will be given by the examiner via handsfree cellphone. The applicant will only be permitted to use a handsfree cellphone or Bluetooth to receive instructions during the test.
SGI will provide a dash camera to record the driver and the view out the windshield.
The SGI examiner will mark the test based on what was recorded by the camera and what may have been observed during the examination, with results provided within one business day.
