More than half of motorists fail driving test

DRIVING testers failed more than 75,000 motorists last year — around half the number sitting tests.

And while provisional drivers passed with flying colours in Buncrana in Co Donegal, those sitting tests in Carlow were the most disappointed.

Figures obtained by The Irish Examiner reveal a complete breakdown of the country’s driving test centres. It is the first time pass and fail rates have been disclosed since late 2005.

Testers examined 158,741 drivers across 49 centres last year. Some 47.6% of drivers nationwide failed. However, fail rates varied considerably, from as little as 35.3% to a shocking 57.8%.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) yesterday said it was not acceptable to still have 360,000 provisional motorists driving, with thousands failing tests monthly and driving back onto roads. It took charge of tests from the Department of Transport last September.

Chief executive Noel Brett blamed a plethora of reasons for the high failure rates.

“A lot of people at the moment would appear to be applying for their tests well in advance of being ready because they believe it takes so long. We have people ringing up now going: “‘oh no, I didn’t think my test would come this quick, can I defer’,” he explained. He also questioned the quality of driving instructors, who remain unregulated in Ireland. He also blamed “socioeconomic factors”.

“If you have a centre where there are a very large number of migrants, of minority ethnic groups turning up, who aren’t familiar driving in this country, there may be issues with those people.”

The pass/fail rate figures show 75,573 drivers failed tests in 2006. The biggest number of failures were recorded in Finglas (5,670), Cork (4,903), Tallaght (4,463) and Raheny (4,210).

Fine Gael last night said sweeping reforms were needed to curb the high volume of failed drivers allowed behind the wheel. Transport spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell said: “You can fail the test several times and still stay on a provisional. Where’s the incentive for people to pass?”

The South Dublin TD also queried the worrying variation in pass rates.

“This could be a case of failing to test the testers.”

But the fail rates could be just down to lazy practice, said the Automobile Association’s Conor Faughnan.

“It is a colossal waste of resources to have a failure rate of nearly 48% across the country. It means half the near 160,000 drivers tested end up going to the back of the queue and continue to be part of the backlog having to sit their test again.”

However, the AA official questioned the varying rates between centres. It essentially meant tests applicants could “shop around”, applying in counties predisposed to higher pass rates.

“It paints a picture of a regime that is crying out for reform. Something has to be wrong.”