Translation into foreign languages on theory and practical driving tests
Published 15 August 2013
© Crown copyright 2013
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This is Freedom of Information request IA/00052/13
For each of the following years 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12 and if possible for 2012/13 so far:
1. Request 1
How many practical driving tests in the UK were conducted with the help of an interpreter?
2. Response
The table below shows the number driving tests that were conducted, where the candidate was accompanied by an interpreter, broken down by category of test and financial year.
| Car tests | Module one bike tests | Module two bike tests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/04/2012 – 31/12/2012 | 26,409 | 0 | 42 |
| 01/04/2011 - 31/03/2012 | 34,673 | 9 | 40 |
| 01/04/2010 - 31/03/2011 | 28,065 | 8 | 21 |
| 01/04/2009 - 31/03/2010 | 34,670 | 8 | 39 |
| 01/04/2008 - 31/03/2009 | 18,037 | 18 | |
| 01/04/2007 - 31/03/2008 | 15,853 | 5 |
Please note that for 2009/10 we had a technical issue with the scanning of the DL25 driving test result forms, resulting in a high figure being incorrectly recorded for the number of interpreters accompanying car test candidates.
Please also note that the single event practical bike test was replaced by a two-part modular test on 1 April 2009.
- Module 1 contains the specified manoeuvres element of the test including exercises designed to assess the rider’s ability to control their machine safely, including avoidance and emergency stop exercises.
- Module 2 includes an eyesight test and at least 30 minutes of on road riding, assessing the rider’s ability to safely interact with other road users.
Tests taken before 1 April 2009 in the financial years 2007/08 and 2008/09 are recorded under Module 2.
3. Request 2
How many theory tests were conducted with the help of a voiceover?
4. Response
The table below shows the number of theory tests that were conducted where the candidate used a voiceover, broken down by category of test and financial year.
| Car tests | Bike tests | |
|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2012 | 67,041 | 620 |
| 01/04/2011 - 31/03/2012 | 105,270 | 858 |
| 01/04/2010 - 31/03/2011 | 93,407 | 683 |
| 01/04/2009 - 31/03/2010 | 89,246 | 717 |
| 01/04/2008 - 31/03/2009 | 84,539 | 794 |
| 01/04/2007 - 31/03/2008 | 102,153 | 684 |
5. Request 3
How many theory tests were conducted with help of a translator?
6. Response
The table below shows the number of theory tests that were conducted where the candidate used a translator, broken down by financial year.
| No. of tests conducted | |
|---|---|
| 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2012 | 1,783 |
| 01/04/2011 - 31/03/2012 | 2,264 |
| 01/04/2010 - 31/03/2011 | 1,358 |
| 01/04/2009 - 31/03/2010 | 1,578 |
| 01/04/2008 - 31/03/2009 | 1,357 |
| 01/04/2007 - 31/03/2008 | 996 |
7. Request 4
For the year 2011/12 only: Please provide a list of the top 10 languages used when an interpreter is enlisted to help with a practical driving test.
8. Response
We do not record the language used by interpreters who accompany candidates on practical driving tests; therefore we do not hold this information.
9. Request 5
For the year 2011/12 only: Please provide a list of the top 10 languages used when theory tests are conducted with a voiceover.
10. Response
The table below shows the top 10 languages used when a theory test was conducted with a voiceover and the number of tests conducted in that language; broken down by category of test, for the financial year 2011/12.
| Language | No. of car tests conducted | Language | No. of bike tests conducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urdu | 24,675 | Polish | 512 |
| Polish | 16,875 | Portuguese | 135 |
| Punjabi | 9,716 | Farsi | 50 |
| Turkish | 9,386 | Turkish | 43 |
| Bengali | 7,140 | Urdu | 26 |
| Kurdish | 7,120 | Spanish-Castilian | 22 |
| Tamil | 6,268 | Tamil | 17 |
| Cantonese | 5,667 | Cantonese | 15 |
| Arabic | 5,089 | Arabic | 10 |
| Farsi | 5,036 | Punjabi | 8 |
11. Request 6
For the year 2011/12 only: Please provide a list of the top 10 driving test centres which had the greatest number of practical driving tests conducted with the help of an interpreter.
12. Response
The table below shows the top 10 practical driving test centres who have conducted the greatest number of tests with an interpreter present; broken down by category of test, for the financial year 2011/12.
| Test centre | No. of car tests conducted | Test centre | No. of Bike Module One tests conducted | Test centre | No. of Bike Module Two tests conducted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Green | 1,756 | Enfield | 3 | Enfield | 5 |
| Enfield | 1,279 | Uxbridge | 3 | Uxbridge | 4 |
| Goodmayes | 1,192 | Chester | 1 | Chester | 3 |
| West Didsbury | 1,057 | Newport (Gwent) | 1 | Farnborough | 3 |
| Chingford | 781 | Swindon | 1 | Newport (Gwent) | 3 |
| Birmingham (Kingstanding) | 715 | Aberdeen South (Cove) | 2 | ||
| Bradford (Heaton) | 713 | Basildon | 2 | ||
| Wanstead | 709 | Cambridge (Hardwick) | 2 | ||
| Mill Hill | 677 | Erith | 2 | ||
| Leicester (Gipsy Lane) | 674 | Herne Bay | 2 |
13. Request 7
For the year 2011/12 only: Please provide a list of the top 10 driving test centres which had the greatest number of theory driving tests conducted with the help of a voiceover.
14. Response
The table below shows the top 10 theory test centres who have conducted the greatest number of tests with a voiceover (excluding English) for the financial year 2011/12, broken down by category of test.
| Test centre | No. of car tests conducted | Test centre | No. of bike tests conducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uxbridge | 7,017 | Southwark | 101 |
| Ilford | 6,816 | Southgate | 63 |
| Southgate | 6,218 | Kingston | 43 |
| Birmingham | 6,005 | Uxbridge | 40 |
| Bradford | 3,449 | Croydon | 35 |
| Southwark | 3,344 | Ilford | 33 |
| Manchester | 3,330 | Watford | 33 |
| Croydon | 3,328 | Edinburgh | 24 |
| Slough | 2,603 | Glasgow | 18 |
| Leicester | 2,464 | Leeds | 18 |