Learners failing driving tests in Suffolk

Matthew Stott made this Freedom of Information request to Driving Standards Agency This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was successful.

Dear Driving Standards Agency,

I wish to make a request for the following under Freedom of Information laws:

1. How many people failed their driving tests in Suffolk in each of the last three years available (i.e. 2010-2012, or 2009-2011, or the last three financial years)

2. For each person that failed, I would like to know their age and the town/city in which they lived.

3. I would also like to know how many times they attempted retaking their test - and how much this cost him/her.

4. I would also like the details of the top five people in Suffolk who have failed their test the most times before finally passing - this does not have to be over the last three years, but as far as records go if possible.

Yours faithfully,
Matthew Stott

Driving Standards Agency

2 Attachments

 

Driving Standards Agency

Knowledge and Information Management Team

The Axis Building

112 Upper Parliament Street

NOTTINGHAM NG1 6LP

 

switchboard: (0115) 936 6666

direct line: (0115) 936 6034

fax: (0115) 936 6580

e-mail: [DSA request email]

website: gov.uk/dsa

 

                                                                          

                                                                           
e-mail [1][DSA request email]

                                 
                                        [date]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Matthew Stott

by email: [FOI #152844 email]

 

12 March 2013

 

our ref: IA/00153/13

 

 

 

Dear Mr Stott

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FoIA) REQUEST

 

Thank you for your email of 11 March 2013 about driving tests in Suffolk..

 

Before we are able to respond, I would like some clarification of the
information you have requested.  Please clarify the following:

 

Please provide the type of test that you want the information for, (theory
and/or practical)

 

Please state the category of test that you want the information for, (for
example car,   motorcycle)

 

Please provide the names of the test centres that you consider to fall
into the scope of your request

  

Please note that without clarification of your requirements we will be
unable to process your request.  If you do not respond within three months
from the date of this letter, then we will consider your request closed.

 

If you wish to discuss your request further then please contact me on the
details above.  Please remember to quote your case reference number in any
future communications.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Knowledge and Information Management Team

 

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[DSA request email]

Dear Driving Standards Agency,

- Practical and theory please.
- Car and motorcycles
- All Suffolk driving test centres: to be included:
Bury St Edmunds (Tritron House, St Andrews Street North P33 1TJ); Ipswich (Bluestem Road / Central Avenue IP3 9RR); Lowestoft (Rishton House, Clapham Road NR32 1RL);

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Stott

Driving Standards Agency

2 Attachments

 

Driving Standards Agency

Knowledge and Information Management Team

The Axis Building

112 Upper Parliament Street

NOTTINGHAM NG1 6LP

 

switchboard: (0115) 936 6666

direct line: (0115) 936 6785

fax: (0115) 936 6580

email: [DSA request email]

website: www.gov.uk/dsa

 

 

 

 

                                                                          

                                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Matthew Stott

by email: [FOI #152844 email]

 

our ref: IA/00153/13

 

12 March 2013

 

Dear Mr Stott

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

 

Thank you for your email of 12 March 2013 providing further information
about theory and practical tests in Suffolk; we are dealing with your
request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

We have interpreted your request for information about the theory test to
cover the theory test centres in Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft and Ipswich. 
If this is not correct please let us know as soon as possible.

 

Your valid request was received by the Driving Standards Agency on 12
March 2013.  We will endeavour to provide you with a full response within
20 working days after receipt of your request.

 

If you have any queries about this letter, please do not hesitate to
contact me on the details as above.  Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

 

Knowledge and Information Management Team

 

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
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Dear Driving Standards Agency,

No - I said theory and practical. If only one of these is practicable then just focus on practical tests.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Stott

Driving Standards Agency

2 Attachments

 

Driving Standards Agency

Knowledge and Information Management Team

The Axis Building

112 Upper Parliament Street

NOTTINGHAM NG1 6LP

 

switchboard: (0115) 936 6666

direct line: (0115) 936 6785

fax: (0115) 936 6580

e-mail: [DSA request email]

website: gov.uk/dsa

 

                                                                          

                                                                           
e-mail [1][DSA request email]

                                 
                                        [date]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Matthew Stott

by email: [FOI #152844 email]

 

14 March 2013

 

our ref: IA/00153/13

 

 

 

Dear Mr Stott

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FoIA) REQUEST

 

Thank you for your email of 12 March 2013 about theory and practical test
statistics in Suffolk.

 

Before we are able to respond, I would like some clarification of the
information you have requested.  Please could you clarify the following:-

 

o For question 1 – Do you require the number of tests that have been
failed or the number of unique individuals who have failed tests?

 

We published some statistics on our website about theory and practical
tests which can be found at the following links:-

 

Practical  test statistics

 

Car -
[2]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...

 

Bike -
[3]https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

 

Theory test statistics

 

[4]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...

 

o For questions 2 and 3 – To provide this information for bike and car
theory and practical would consist of over 30,000 lines of data. 
Please could you confirm that this is the information that you
require.  

 

You are not obliged to but it would be beneficial if we could discuss your
request with you to ascertain the information that you require and so we
can then advise you on what information we are able to provide.  Please
could you contact us on the telephone number above so we can assist you
further with your request.  Alternatively please could you provide us with
a contact number and a convenient to time to contact you, you can provide
this information by emailing us at [5][DSA request email].  

 

o For question 3 – Do you require information about all attempts or the
number of attempts excluding the first attempt?

  

Please note that without clarification of your requirements we will be
unable to process this part of your request.  If you do not respond within
three months from the date of this letter, then we will consider your
request closed.

 

If you wish to discuss your request further then please contact me on the
details above.  Please remember to quote your case reference number in any
future communications.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Knowledge and Information Management Team

 

show quoted sections

Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[DSA request email]
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...
4. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...
5. mailto:[DSA request email]

Dear Driving Standards Agency,

Yes, you can contact me on [phone number removed]. Any time today would be great thanks.

Q1 - the number of people who have failed tests. Then a breakdown for the top 10 - in other words, in addition to figure of the number of people who have failed a test, I would like details of the top 10 people who have failed the most times. I.e. Gender, age, which test centre, how many times did they fail.

Q2 - If this will take too much time (30,000 lines) then remove it from the request.

Q3 - I think this will be answered in Q1 - i.e. the top 10 people with the most amounts of failures.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Stott

Driving Standards Agency

2 Attachments

 

Driving Standards Agency

Knowledge and Information Management Team

The Axis Building

112 Upper Parliament Street

NOTTINGHAM NG1 6LP

 

switchboard: (0115) 936 6666

direct line: (0115) 936 6769

fax: (0115) 936 6580

email: [DSA request email]

website: www.gov.uk/dsa

 

 

 

                                                                          

                                                                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Matthew Stott

by email: [FOI #152844 email]

 

our ref: IA/00153/13

 

3 April 2013

 

Dear Mr Stott

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

 

We spoke a short time ago concerning your request for information on the
theory and practical test.  In this conversation it was agreed that we
would interpret your request as follows:

 

a) The top five greatest number of attempts at the car practical test at
test centres in Suffolk between April 2004 and 31 December 2012 where they
have now passed.  Please provide this information where the candidate’s
last attempt was at one of the test centres in Suffolk and include their
gender and age (at their last test)

 

b) The top five greatest number of attempts at the car practical test at
test centres in Suffolk between April 2004 and 31 December 2012 where they
have yet to pass.  Please provide this information where the candidate's
last attempt was at one of the test centres in Suffolk and include their
gender and age (at their last test)

 

c) The top five greatest number of attempts at the car theory test at test
centres in Suffolk between September 2004 and 31 December 2012 where they
have now passed.  Please provide this information where the candidate's
last attempt was at one of the test centres in Suffolk and include their
gender and age (at their last test)

 

d)  The top five greatest number of attempts at the car theory test
between September 2004 and 31 December 2012 at Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich
and Lowestoft where they have yet to pass.  Please provide this
information where the candidate's last attempt was at one of the test
centres in Suffolk and include their gender and age (at their last test)

 

We discussed your request for information on the bike test and you advised
that if it was to exceed the 24 working hour limit that you’d like us to
focus on the car theory and practical test.  It is likely that it would
exceed the 24 working hour limit and then section 12 (cost of compliance)
would be invoked.  We also changed the bike practical test in April 2009
to a two-part modular test and, therefore, any information on the greatest
number of attempts at the bike test would be split between pre-April 2009
and the two modules introduced in April 2009.  You agreed for the bike
theory and practical greatest attempts request to be withdrawn.

 

We are dealing with your request under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

 

Your clarified request was received by the Driving Standards Agency on 3
April.  We will endeavour to provide you with a full response within 20
working days after receipt of your request.   We do hope, however, to be
able to issue a full reply sooner.

 

If you have any queries about this email, please do not hesitate to
contact me on the details as above.  Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

Graham Watts

Knowledge and Information Management Team

 

 

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Dear Driving Standards Agency,

I am still waiting a response. WhatDoTheyKnow insist you should have answered me by now according to law.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Stott

Driving Standards Agency

Dear Mr Stott,

 

Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act we had to contact
you for clarification so that we could ascertain the specific information
that you required.  This was provided to us on 3 April and changed the
scope of your request.  We acknowledged your valid request on 3 April and
advised you that we would respond to request within 20 working days of
that date.  We will therefore endeavour to provide you with a response to
your request as soon as possible but before 30 April 2013.

 

 

Kind Regards

 

 

Knowledge and Information Management Team

 

Driving Standards Agency  |  Information Assurance

 

 

 

DSA, The Axis Building, 112 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 6LP

 

 

 

The best place to find government services and information is www.gov.uk

 

 

 

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Paul Chapman left an annotation ()

I would suggest that this is a massive waste of time and effort, and one of the reasons the government is looking into making FOI requests harder to process...

Driving Standards Agency

3 Attachments

 

Driving Standards Agency

Knowledge and Information Management Team

The Axis Building

112 Upper Parliament Street

NOTTINGHAM NG1 6LP

 

switchboard: (0115) 936 6666

direct line: (0115) 936 6034

fax: (0115) 936 6580

email: [DSA request email]

website: gov.uk/dsa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew Stott

by email:
[FOI #152844 email]                                                                 

 

our ref: IA/00153/13

 

19 April 2013

 

Dear Mr Stott

 

Information requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA)

 

Further to our email of 3 April 2013, I can confirm that we have handled
your request for information about car practical and theory test
statistics within the terms of the FoIA.

 

I attach at Annex A the response to your request.

 

If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your request, you should
ask for an internal review by contacting the Information Compliance
Manager, at the above address.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Knowledge and Information Management Team

 

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.