Almost half of learner drivers fail test

DRIVING instructors have called for a major reform of the provisional driving licence system after it emerged almost half of all learner drivers failed the official test last year.

The Driving Instructor Register of Ireland said figures on driving test results in 2002, published by the Department of Environment yesterday, highlight how most drivers here are unaware of traffic legislation.

Just 54% of the 149,000 learner drivers who sat the driving test last year obtained a pass a 2% drop in the success rate since 1997. The pass rate rose to 57% for people sitting their second or repeat test.