The percentage of people failing their first driving test has shot up from 34.1% in 2004 to 57.2% in the first half of 2008 – a massive increase of 23% in the past four years.
So far, of the 2,811 candidates sitting for their practical test in the first half of 2008, 1,607 failed.
Significantly in 2007, 1,648 candidates failed on their first try, 748 candidates failed on their second try, 317 failed the test three times and 127 failed after the third try.
Back in 2004 only 1,407 had failed their first test, 371 candidates their second, 139 their third and 61 failed the test more than three times.
The year 2005, the same year when a bribery scandal involving ADT examiners was uncovered, proved to be the toughest for candidates sitting for the test. In that particular year 59.4% who stood for their first driving test failed. And 27.2% of the candidates who sat for their first test went on repeat the test three times or more.
Yet the number of those failing the exam dipped again in 2006 when the number of those failing the exam fell by 13%.
The statistics suggest that during the past years the ADT has adopted stricter criteria for examining candidates. In 2006 the Driving Test Section was revamped following the commencement of criminal proceedings against some ADT employees involved in bribery allegations. In the same period a number of new driving test routes were also identified.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt