Northern Ireland - Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency

Background

The Northern Ireland Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) undertook an Equality Impact Assessment to consider the impact of the driving theory test on the categories set out in the relevant legislation of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and to ensure compliance with the Department of the Environment’s (DOE) Equality Scheme.

Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency website: Driving Theory Test Equality Impact Assessment (pdf)

Evidence used

• Existing DVTA/theory test contractor data.
• Review of current provisions for minority groups.
• Interviews with test designers and delivery agents to obtain contextual information and qualitative observations on the delivery of the theory driving test and associated processes.
• Postal survey of recent test users (in both English and Cantonese) to generate social baseline information and a telephone survey of voiceover users (in English).
• Focus group of users for whom Cantonese was their first language.
• In-depth interviews and consultation with organisations representing minority groups.

Conclusions from evidence

The evidence showed:

• Dyslexia sufferers and people with learning disabilities were more likely to fail the test due to study materials being difficult to read, the test procedure being hard to read and understand, a lack of awareness of the additional facilities available to assist candidates in taking their test and reluctance to be seen as ‘different’ in using the voice-over or ‘one-to-one’ option.
• People from ethnic minorities were more likely to fail the test due to a lack of knowledge of how to access the test service and facilities available to assist them, and also due to the fact that study materials were effectively only available in English.

Outcomes

All theory test centres are now compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, 20 language voiceovers are available (including English), postal application forms provide information on the full range of facilities and there is an accommodation booth in the Belfast centre to facilitate translator assisted tests.

Contact information

For further information please contact Sam Grant, Statistical Directorate, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ:

• Tel: (029) 2082 6023
• Fax: (029) 2082 5350
• E-mail: stats.popcensus@wales.gsi.gov.uk