Single test for candidates applying driving licence from next month

The government will implement a single test for those applying for the car and motorcycle driving licence beginning next month, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi.

He said this would be conducted following complaints and criticism received from the public on the hassle of going through two different tests from the Road Transport Department (RTD) due time constraints and costs involved.

"The government has taken into consideration all suggestions from the public and the Transport Ministry is expected to implement the single test next month.

"Both tests will be merged into one to make it easier for the public apart from reducing the cost of obtaining a driving license," he said when replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Hasbullah Osman (BN-Gerik) at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, here Thursday.

Hasbullah wanted to know the steps taken by the government to make it easier for the public to apply for a car and motorcycle driving licence.

Aziz said, however, the syllabus of both tests were different.

A survey conducted by The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) revealed that the percentage of accidents involving motorcycles was high at 60 percent while 20 percent involved car accidents, he said.

To the original question from Shaharuddin Ismail (BN-Kangar), who queried on the total percentage of individuals sitting for the computerised test to obtain a driving licence, Aziz said 57 percent candidates had passed after taking the test for the first time.

Thirty-eight percent passed the test on the second time, 31 percent for the third time and 18 percent for candidates taking it more than three times, he said.

"The written and computerised tests are aimed at evaluating and testing the candidates' competence level in traffic rules knowledge and to instil defensive driving concept," Aziz said. These tests are based on the Driver Education Curriculum (Kurikulum Pendidikan Pemandu).

As a responsible government, Aziz said the simplified test was to facilitate people who were less skilled in using the computer, including those from the rural areas and senior citizens.