Number of local drivers passing the driving test above the national average

Statistics from a leaked Road Safety Authority (RSA) report have revealed that just over 59 per cent of learner-drivers in Longford pass their test.

Longford’s pass rate of 59.29 per cent compares favourably with the national average of 54.56 per cent. Ennis has the country’s highest pass rate with 67.92 per cent, while Kilkenny languishes at the bottom of the list with a success rate of only 39.7 per cent.

The RSA says the figures are in line with statistics from other EU countries and that a number of factors are responsible for the variation in pass rates between test centres. “All of the state testers at each centre were fully trained to the highest standards, and standards of testing were common to all locations”, RSA chief executive Noel Brett said. “Some centres have only a few hundred tests per annum, while others have huge volumes.” He added that conditions such as socio-economic circumstances, quality of tuition, age, literacy and access to a vehicle for practice also played a vital role.

Pass rates across the country are expected to improve significantly after a six month training period with specially approved instructors was made compulsory in April, although the effects won’t be apparent until the end of the year.