Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US and Commonwealth of Kentucky beginning in March 2020 there have been serious reductions in the availability of services, including those provided by government. While the reasons are understandable, the lack of progress towards relieving some of those reductions are not. If any of your families have high school age students or seniors getting ready to graduate in May 2021, besides that diploma what other “Must Have” item will they need to achieve independence, whether it for be education or employment? If you said a “Driver’s License” then you are absolutely right. How will you get to any school or job without the ability to drive? This problem also contributes to a lack of available workers in the economy. Have any of you tried helping your teenager to take the KY Driver Permit Written Test? If you have succeeded in doing so congratulations! I can tell you not everyone has been able to get an appointment for this test, especially at Bowman Field KSP office in Louisville KY. Phone lines have been busy all day every day since late June, appointments unavailable with no end in sight to the current backlog for Driver Tests. If you do get through to KY State Police they will tell you that the office is ordered to close due to COVID-19 and there are NO alternatives but to wait. But for how long should we wait? The state began shifting into regional testing sites claiming this will improve things but they only cause people to travel farther and serve select counties only, how is that improved efficiency? Higher taxes, less services is what we're getting. We have written letters to numerous offices and politicians all without any sensible responses to this issue. Students are being neglected in this response effort, no authority  seems to think they will be affected because of their youth but I beg to differ, this problem will set them back in many ways. This is not just an isolated problem here in Kentucky, but nationally as well, just Google it. Some states are providing the written test online, why not in KY, teachers are already providing students online classes and testing, parents are now getting onboard with it also. Maybe a temporary amendment in the law for the time required to reach graduated license status. Drivers Road Testing could be done by state certified contractors. Alternative locations throughout the state instead of limiting offices to serve only residents of one county. These options if available would help relieve young peoples burden in this and future situations. Making any of those changes would be real leadership. This Driver’s License Test crisis could be dealt with if only people would speak up and demand it be a priority. Changes must be made now if we are to survive the debilitating affects of these long lasting unpredictable pandemics and carry on with our lives. If you believe your government could act in making this important issue a higher priority now and in the future please add your name by signing and forwarding on to others whom you think have an interest. Thank you for supporting this effort to promote real changes that help and support real working people in KY.