The idea that licenses produce safer roads might be valid if there were no alternative options - and there are. Regardless though, we have a common law right to travel that supersedes any statutory proclamation made in parliament. Having a license to drive is therefore, in a lawful sense, similar to having a license to eat - neither are valid in an ultimate sense if we are respecting free will. Does having a piece of paper mean that I will drive safely? Certainly not!
It's very important to always be aware of when freedom is being lost in the name of 'safety' - otherwise we end up with an authoritarian nightmare which only those who desire real freedom will ever fully recognise, while the rest don't even notice how controlled they are and just call it 'normal' :/
It would be interesting to test your claimed common law right to travel with the the UK courts? especially since UK law is all common law based?
Where I live a MDL is often cancelled as a punishment for not paying a fine, eg you did not vote!!!! - most times you do not even know your license is cancelled. When Police stop you, using smart number plate recognition, they charge you for driving without a license - a more serious offence. Then you have to re-sit your drivers license with all the newbies, maybe waiting list of 10 weeks or so + expensive fees. This is how absurd being "free" is in a so called western democarcy!
UK courts operate a hgg hmm 'hybrid' system whereby they will attempt to NOT use common law at every opportunity and will switch to the revenue generation method of statutes and acts whenever possible. Only those who realise this and use the correct language will get the courts to honor common law and those do not typically include lawyers.
Switching the courts to the older jurisdiction is done though and you can see videos of it on youtube (filmed 'illegally' according to the courts). As I recall, the language is 'traveling in a conveyance' rather than 'driving a motor vehicle/car'. ;)
I never lived in a parliamentary type of government otherwise you have a strong argument and basic points. A piece of paper will not mean they can drive safely but probably can give you the slightest idea if this person has a knowledge of driving or not. There is a written, eye test and actual test that tells you if the person is capable or not but it will not tell you if the person will drive erratically or what's going on their minds at the time of driving. And freedom is a right for everyone.
"May we think of freedom, not to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right."-Peter Marshall
I concur, nobody wants to live under a tyrannical type of system. Anyways, good educational exchanging for words. I am still hoping for that Tesla one day! 'til next time!