

so the driving test proves nothing
The driving test proves you can competently drive to a safe standard. I agree that you learn more through experience, but first you need to be able to drive to a particular standard before being allowed to drive on your own.
What’s the alternative if there’s no test? You just allow anyone who reaches the driving age to get in a car and drive on their own?
I’m not convinced. There’s probably a chunk of people who don’t drive because they kept showing that they weren’t safe enough to drive by failing their test. If the aim is to reduce the barrier to entry for driving because tests are expensive (they’re £62 in the UK, really not that expensive) then those costs will only be countered by way higher insurance premiums as there will be more drivers who can just jump in a car and drive on their own and crash. Also as a driver and pedestrian, I really don’t want to be on the same road as those people.