Moldova Revamps Driver's License Test for Safer Roads
The Public Services Agency (ASP) in Moldova is implementing changes to driver's licence testing procedures with the aim of improving road safety and aligning the country's standards with international best practices.
Effective July 1, 2024, a revised theoretical test will be introduced, incorporating 318 new questions. This represents a roughly 30% increase from the existing pool of 940 questions.
The revised test will cover a broader range of topics, including road safety advancements, fire safety regulations, and proper conduct towards cyclists and scooter riders – all elements increasingly relevant to the evolving traffic landscape. These changes are driven by Moldova's aspirations for greater international recognition of its driver's licences. Negotiations on this front are currently underway.
While ASP anticipates that the increased number of questions will lead to better-prepared drivers, some future test-takers express concerns. Some view the addition of questions as a positive step towards enhanced theoretical knowledge and improved driver behaviour. Others, however, worry that the inclusion of repetitive or redundant questions might unnecessarily complicate the testing process.
According to ASP data, the pass rate for the theoretical portion of the driver's licence exam currently sits at approximately 50%, with a significantly lower pass rate for the practical exam. The Ministry of Education and Research, responsible for approving the test's content, emphasises that alternative learning resources are available to students beyond commercially published materials. The Ministry offers an electronic question bank on its official website, allowing students to prepare for the exam in collaboration with their instructors.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
