A 50-year-old man in Poland has unsuccessfully attempted to pass his driver’s theory test 192 times over the past 17 years, the highest number ever recorded in the country.
To obtain a driver’s licence in Poland, candidates must first pass a theory exam before being allowed to take a practical one. There is no limit on the number of attempts. The pass rate usually ranges between 50% and 60% for the theory test, while it is generally below 40% for the practical.
The man from Piotrków Trybunalski, whose name was not disclosed, began his trials almost two decades ago. According to state broadcaster TVP, he must have already spent almost 6,000 zloty (€1,300) on exam fees.
On average Poles pass the theory test on their second or third attempt in Poland. The second worst driver at the Provincial Centre for Road Traffic (WORD) located in Piotrków Trybunalski has attempted it 40 times, reports TVP. One candidate in the south-western city of Opole has recorded 113 attempts.
Pass rates differ significantly between centres. In 2020, the highest share of candidates passed the theory exam in Lublin (58.9%) and the lowest in Bolesławiec (45.2%). For the practical exam, the highest share was 53% in Jelenia Góra and the lowest was 24.9% in Łódź.
The case in Piotrków Trybunalski has raised concerns about the number of attempts that candidates should be allowed. “There should be a regulation in Poland that prohibits a candidate from taking the exam more than 20 or 30 times,” said Stanisław Kobusiewicz, a driving instructor quoted by TVP.
“If someone is ignorant of the rules and does not know them, he should not drive on the streets. It can, after all, pose a danger to others,” said Kobusiewicz.
Earlier this year, British media reported that a 42-year-old man had finally passed his theory test at the 158th attempt, a national record. Piotrków Trybunalski’s hapless driver still, however, has some way to go to reach the 950 failed tests notched up by a woman in South Korea, reported in 2009.
Main image credit: Alexandra z Pixabay
Maria Wilczek is deputy editor of Notes from Poland. She is a regular writer for The Times, The Economist and Al Jazeera English, and has also featured in Foreign Policy, Politico Europe, The Spectator and Gazeta Wyborcza.
