DSA Free Driving Theory Test

The request was successful.

Mr Harry Singh Dhillon Esq.

Dear Driving Standards Agency,

QUESTION

1. Please tell me how I can obtain the FREE driving theory test as mentioned on

https://www.gov.uk/practise-your-driving...

OBSERVATION

2. http://www.safedrivingforlife.info/offic...

states "Take an official free practice driving theory test

"You can take official Driving Standards Agency (DSA) practice theory tests online free of charge.
Mock tests are available for learner car drivers, motorcyclists, lorry, bus and coach drivers."

3. Both motorcycle tests require a download of Adobe Flash. I am uncertain whether Adobe Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash) is available for my brand of Linux. I do not want to put propriety closed-source software on my computer because it can contain literally anything and because it could damage my computer's security and well-being.

QUESTION

4. How much is the DSA or Department of Transport paying the private company to operate the FREE tests which are not FREE to everyone especially those use the superior Linux operating system and prefer open-source software ?

5. What consideration did the DSA undertake of the known fact that some computer users dislike Adobe Flash for the documented computer security issues, that Adobe Flash may not be available for all computer operating systems and sensible informed computer users may not wish to contaminate their computers with propriety Adobe Flash ?

6. Why did the DSA decided not to use HTML web pages for the alleged FREE test ?

7. What is the DSA's definition of FREE in the context of
the "FREE driving theory test"

Yours faithfully,

Harry
Leaner Driver

Paul Chapman left an annotation ()

Could I also ask why the bit that people NEED to see, the hazard perception videos, are not included in these tests?

Does it not seem a bit of a cheat to offer something for free, but you only get half of it, and the half you could replicate with another person?

A Hussain left an annotation ()

To be Fair, the DSA have the Free (courtesy) theory test practice online and it is perfectly working on my computer, if the lack of equipment is an issue on the part of the leaner, then the learner needs to make that arrangement for example by going to the local library, otherwise the DSA have to buy loads of laptops for people who do not have any type computer at all.

Mr Harry Singh Dhillon Esq. left an annotation ()

Mr Hussain misses the point.

The government, which exists to serve *all* the people not only those using expensive Microsoft Windoze, could have used standard web pages for the purpose of assisting learners with theory questions.

The government freely, without any pressure from the public, chose to use a method the government knew in advance would not be universally accessible to all of its intended public users.

Its possible someone got a backhander for the non-universal access decision (because that is the way the system sometimes works). I do not know. What I do know is the government broke, in law, its own policy of making information universally available.

Q.E.D.

Correspondence North, Driving Standards Agency

Driving Standards Agency
PO Box 280
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE99 1FP T 0300 200 1122
F 0300 200 1155
www.gov.uk/dsa
Harry
Email: [FOI #199991 email]


17 March 2014

Our ref: 1403/00159

Dear Harry

Thank you for your email of 2 March about a DSA free driving theory test.

There is no mention of a free driving theory test on the link you have provided. It states that you can practice the theory test for free; it does not state that you will receive a free test.

The Start button on that page links to the official practice tests we make available through our publishing partners, The Stationery Office Ltd, which are provided free of charge.

These are practice tests to help to assess how well your study for your theory test is going. These tests are currently in Adobe Flash.

We do not pay the private company who develop the site to run these tests as running them for us free of charge, is a condition of the partnership.

The tests themselves are a legacy from previous contracts when Flash was more commonly used and supported by more platforms.

Replacement HTML practice tests are in development.

The fee for a car theory test is £31. We do not offer free tests. Only the practice tests are free of charge. To book a driving theory test you would need to visit https://www.gov.uk/book-a-driving-theory....

Yours sincerely

Carole Hodgson
Customer Support Correspondence

Customer Operations
[email address]
For information about how to use our complaints procedure, please click here

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Darren Cottingham left an annotation ()

Other providers are licenced by DSA to provide theory tests online and do so in HTML which is Linux-compliant, therefore the government does offer that service. You can go to a website such as http://rightdriver.co.uk, or any one of a number of others and all the official questions are there for car, motorcycle, lorry and bus.

Mr Harry Singh Dhillon Esq. left an annotation ()

Thank you for your observation and very helpful URL. Your recommended site http://rightdriver.co.uk is impressive and useful.