One in five West Australians taking four or more attempts to pass driving test, new data shows

One in five West Australians have taken four or more attempts to pass their driving test in the past year, shocking new data has revealed. And the number of drivers taking that many attempts has more than doubled in the past decade. Department of Transport data obtained by The Sunday Times has revealed more than 8300 drivers needed at least four attempts to pass their practical driving tests in the 2024 financial year — almost 20 per cent of the roughly 43,600 drivers who passed. At $114.50 per re-test, it means those who’ve needed at least one more test have collectively raised the Government $5.7 million in 2023-24 alone. Altogether, the past 10 years have seen nearly one-quarter (23 per cent) of prospective drivers require four or more attempts to pass — and obtain a licence to drive. It pales in comparison to the 4073 — 8.6 per cent — that required four or more attempts in the 2015 financial year. That year was also the last time WA’s pass rate was above 50 per cent, hovering between 41 and 49 per cent since then. In 2024 the pass rate was 47.9 per cent, with more than 60 per cent of drivers requiring more than one attempt to get their licence. The Department of Transport has attributed this to an increase in drivers taking the test before they are ready, but would not go as far as saying drivers were overestimating their ability to drive safely. “Although a pass rate of less than 50 per cent could be construed as low, any improvement can only occur through candidates being better prepared for their assessment,” a department spokesman said. He added candidates should only do a practical driving assessment “once they’re completely ready and confident that they can safely drive without supervision if they pass”. Road Safety Minister David Michael cautioned against “inferring that drivers are ‘getting worse’” based on driving test results, before urging learner drivers to be “better prepared”. “I know DoT is focused on improving pass rates, but this can only occur through candidates being better prepared for their assessments,” Mr Michael said. He said operating a vehicle was just one part of driver competence, adding that it was also about “safe driving skills as well as routines and habits that can be adopted for life”. “Learning basic vehicle control skills takes time but then further time is required to become automated and comfortable in using these skills to navigate through traffic safely,” the minister said. “I would encourage learner drivers to get as many hours of quality instruction and supervision as possible so they can be well prepared before attempting a PDA (practical driving assessment).” It comes as the State Government on Friday announced a $32.5 million funding boost over the next four years to make regional roads safer and curb WA’s growing road toll, which currently sits at 128. Allocated through the Road Trauma Trust Account, which accumulates cash from traffic infringements, $20m of that will go towards the government’s existing regional road safety program. The program was launched in 2020 to target single vehicle run-off road crashes and has so far seen 9000km of the State road network treated with audible edge lines and shoulder sealing and widening. Main Roads analysis six to 12 months after the works found sections of treated road saw a 50 per cent reduction in fatalities and a 35 per cent reduction in serious injuries compared to the five-year average prior. The $20m cash injection will expand the program to local government roads. Mr Michael said it represented “more immediate measures” to improve regional road safety as the government reviews ideas from Monday’s road safety summit. Other measures included $8.6m for two new booze buses to be deployed to regional areas, $2.1m for increased traffic enforcement in the regions — including high-visibility livery on 44 police cars — and $1.8m for improved traffic data gathering. There have been 76 lives lost on regional roads and 52 in the metro area to date.