Driving Standards Agency's Blog, page 8

FOI release: Driving tests conducted in a language other than English

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act gives you the right to ask any public sector organisation for all the recorded information they have on any subject. For more information read our quick guide.

To send an FOI request to the Driving Standards Agency contact:

Freedom of Information requests

FOI
Driving Standards Agency


The Axis Building


112 Upper Parliament Street
Nottingham
NG1 6LP

Email
foi@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

Contact form
https://www.dft.gov.uk...

News story: End to foreign language driving tests

The move, announced today (10 October 2013) by Road Safety Minister Robert Goodwill, follows a public consultation.

Currently people can:

take their car and motorcycle theory tests with a voiceover in 1 of 19 foreign languages

use interpreters on theory tests and practical tests

This will stop from 7 April 2014.

“Right skills to use our roads”

Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport, said:

We want to make sure that all drivers have the right skills to use our roads safely and responsibly. One area where we can help ensure this is by requiring all test candidates to take the test in English or Welsh, the national languages.

This will help to ensure that all new drivers will be able to understand traffic updates or emergency information when they pass their test. It will also help us to reduce the risk of fraud by stopping interpreters from indicating the correct answers to theory test questions.

Review of foreign language support

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) consulted earlier this year on a series of proposals reviewing the level of foreign language support available to candidates.

This was in response to concerns about:

potential road safety implications
the risk of fraud
the cost of providing translations

Almost 2,000 people had their say on the proposals.

Support for the withdrawal of foreign languages

More than 70% of the people who responded supported the withdrawal of foreign language voiceovers and interpreters on tests.

Many people agreed that a lack of understanding of the national language meant that some drivers may not be able to:

understand traffic signs
speak with traffic enforcement officers
read details of the rules of the road

There was also support for encouraging candidates to learn the national language to improve social cohesion.

Read the full report on the consultation.

Candidates with special needs

Candidates with dyslexia or other reading difficulties will still be able to take their theory test with an English or Welsh language voiceover.

Candidates who are deaf or have hearing difficulties will still be able to:

take their theory test in British sign language (BSL)
take a BSL interpreter with them on their practical test
More information about the tests


The driving theory test for cars and motorcycles
The car practical driving test
The motorcycle practical riding test
Buy official DSA learning materials

Collection: Learning to drive and driving test research

-

Research and analysis: Evaluation of a new learning to drive syllabus and process

The quantitative report discusses 2 years of research carried out as part of an overall evaluation study of the new syllabus and process.

The qualitative report presents findings, evaluation and recommendations for the new learning to drive syllabus and process.

Guidance: Driving examiner training programme

The driving examiner training overview sets out:

the competencies that driving examiners need
how the Driving Standards Agency makes sure that driving examiners have them

All new driving examiners have to take 4 weeks of ‘new entrant’ training. The new entrant training programme sets out what’s covered, the objectives and how it’s provided.

All driving examiners have to take the following periodic training:

5 days of driver training in every 5 years
4 days of test training in every 2 years

The periodic training programme sets out what’s covered, the objectives and how it’s provided.

FOI release: Driver CPC training: approved centres, companies, courses content and number of delegates

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act gives you the right to ask any public sector organisation for all the recorded information they have on any subject. For more information read our quick guide.

To send an FOI request to the Driving Standards Agency contact:

Freedom of Information requests

FOI
Driving Standards Agency


The Axis Building


112 Upper Parliament Street
Nottingham
NG1 6LP

Email
foi@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

Contact form
https://www.dft.gov.uk...

FOI release: Audits at approved Driver CPC training centres

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act gives you the right to ask any public sector organisation for all the recorded information they have on any subject. For more information read our quick guide.

To send an FOI request to the Driving Standards Agency contact:

Freedom of Information requests

FOI
Driving Standards Agency


The Axis Building


112 Upper Parliament Street
Nottingham
NG1 6LP

Email
foi@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

Contact form
https://www.dft.gov.uk...

Statistical data set: Compulsory training and incident statistics (INS05)

Table INS0501

ATB Statutory Register: from April 2011
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 37KB]

Table INS0502

Compulsory basic training (CBT) instructor Standards Checks, quarterly, Great Britain: from April 2011
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 35KB]

Table INS0503

Compulsory basic training (CBT) statistics, quarterly, Great Britain: from April 2011
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 36KB]

Table INS0504

Incident Statistics (compulsory basic training and direct access scheme), quarterly, Great Britain: from October 2011
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 35KB]

Driving tests and instructors statistics enquiries

Email
vehicles.stats@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Public enquiries
020 7944 3077

Statistical data set: Driving theory tests (DRT50)

Table DRT5201

Car theory test pass rates by gender, monthly, Great Britain: from April 2007
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 96KB]

Table DRT5203

Theory car pass rates by gender and age of candidate, Great Britain: from April 2007
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 137KB]

Table DRT5401

Theory bike test pass rates by gender, monthly, Great Britain: from April 2007
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 64.5KB]

Table DRT5403

Theory bike test pass rates by age and gender, Great Britain: from April 2007
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 138KB]

Table DRT5501

Theory large goods vehicles (Category C LGV) test pass rates by gender, monthly, Great Britain: from April 2007
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 144KB]

Table DRT5503

Theory LGV test pass rates by age and gender, Great Britain: from April 2007
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 235KB]

Table DRT5601

Theory passenger carrying vehicle (category D PCV) test pass rates by gender, monthly, Great Britain: from April 2007
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 146KB]

Table DRT5603

Theory LGV test pass rates by age and gender, Great Britain: from April 2007
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 241KB]

Table DRT5701

Approved driving instructor Part 1 test pass rates by gender, monthly, Great Britain: from April 2007
[MS Excel Spreadsheet, 44KB]

Driving tests and instructors statistics enquiries

Email
vehicles.stats@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Public enquiries
020 7944 3077

Statistics: Driver and rider test and instructor statistics, Great Britain: Apr to Jun Q1 2013-14

Information on the number and pass rates of driving and riding practical tests conducted in Great Britain for the quarter to 30 June 2013, and also statistics on driving instructors.

The statistics are derived from data held by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), which administers the driving test and training schemes in Great Britain.

Main results

From April to June 2013:

355,255 car practical tests were conducted, 1.8% fewer than in the same quarter of the previous year. The pass rate for these tests was 47.4%, differing only marginally from the same period in 2012.
350,380 car theory tests were conducted, 12.9% more than in the same quarter of the previous year. The pass rate for these tests was 52.2%, 8.6 percentage points lower than one year before. The increase in tests, and reduction in pass rate, are related to changes to the questions asked.

At the end of June 2013, there were 45,387 approved driving instructors on the register, and 2,497 motorcycle riding instructors on the statutory register.

Contact details



Driving tests and instructors statistics enquiries

Email
vehicles.stats@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Public enquiries
020 7944 3077