Tasmanian learner drivers fail almost half of provisional licence driving tests

Tasmania’s learner drivers need “more practice and a greater understanding of the road rules”, say experts. See the state’s best and worst pass-fail rates for P-Plate tests.

TASMANIA’S learner drivers are failing almost half of their practical driving tests, with new exclusive figures revealing which part of the state has the worst performers.

The Mercury can reveal the statewide failure rate for the 2018-19 financial year was 48 per cent out of more than 11,700 assessments.

Launceston was the toughest of the state’s major centres to get a licence, with only 44 per cent of 2743 L-platers to be given a passing grade.

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Learner drivers in Hobart faired marginally better with a pass rate of 52 per cent from 4674 tests.

L-platers in Burnie topped the class from the major centres with a pass rate of 54 per cent from 810 assessments, with Devonport coming in second at 53 per cent from 1047 tests.

RACT general manager mobility services Darren Moody. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

RACT general manager mobility services Darren Moody said he was “not that surprised” by the figures.

“We see a lot of learner drivers who want to undertake their P1 assessment before they are ready, and I’m sure there are many that we don’t see that go too early,” he said.

“Learning to drive safely is a serious task that takes time behind the wheel to become a competent driver.”

Ollie Gorringe, 17, working on his skills with RACT driving instructor Vaughan Brown. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Mr Moody said the current requirement of 50 hours in their L2 logbook was only a minimum, with many drivers needing more hours to become competent.

In Victoria, learner drivers under the age of 21 are required to complete 120 hours of supervised driving, including 20 hours at night, before they can go for their provisional licence.

“A lot of learners who don’t get professional help may not understand some of the fundamental tasks that are required to pass an assessment such as hazard identification,” Mr Moody said.

“Statistically, the day a driver transitions from a learner to a provisional driver, their crash risk increases more than 20 times.”

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A State Growth department spokesman said the aim was to make sure every person moving to a P1 licence had the necessary skills and abilities to be safe on the road.

He said in the majority of fail cases, the learner just needed more practice and a greater understanding of the road rules.

“Given this is down to the individual, the pass and fail rates don’t necessarily suggest any location is easier than another,” he said.

“It is up to the learner and their supervisor or instructor to make sure they are ready to take the P1 test and even a fail should be used as a learning experience.”

State Growth said the P1 driving test system was designed to be as consistent as possible regardless of where the test was taken, but road and traffic conditions could vary significantly.

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REGION — PASS RATE — TOTAL ASSESSMENTS

North — 46.6 per cent — 3404

North-West — 56.6 per cent — 2635

South — 53.3 per cent — 5693

LOCATION — PASS RATE — TOTAL ASSESSMENTS

Burnie — 54.3 per cent — 810

Devonport — 52.6 per cent — 1047

Hobart — 51.7 per cent — 4674

Launceston — 44.2 per cent — 2743