MOTOR CAR/MOTOR LORRY DRIVING TESTS (High failure rate)

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Home Affairs what are the reasons for the high failure rate of driving tests in relation to motor-cars and motor-lorries.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Sir, the failure rate of driving tests for motor cars and motor lorries has remained fairly constant over the years. Between 1982 and 1986, the failure rate for motor cars fluctuated between 70% and 80%. As for motor lorries, the failure rate was between 60% and 70%.

Many candidates fail the driving test because they are inadequately prepared when they appear for their tests.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Is the Minister of State willing to waive the compulsory taking of a test after they have successfully passed their traffic code? I believe that a person has to take the traffic code and there is a minimum period in which he has to take his driving test. Perhaps that is the cause of the high rate of failure.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Sir, I think the Member for Potong Pasir is quite confused. I shall try to enlighten him.

The present driving test is based on three parts. There is the basic driving theory test and there is a final driving theory test before the practical test. A candidate for the practical test must first pass the final driving theory test. After having passed the final driving theory test, he has to sit for the practical test within a period of one year. I believe this is the compulsory period that he is referring to. Why one year? I think a person who has learnt the theory of driving should as soon as possible put that theory to good use and he should therefore sit for the driving test. If you allow too long a period to elapse, then all that he has learnt in the theories of driving could be forgotten and he could then become a danger to other road users if he is allowed on the road. The question here, Sir, is, do we want to make our roads safer? Do we want to improve the quality of our drivers? If so, I think the present system is a step in that direction.