Vietnam's Driving Test Pass Rate Raises Concerns

According to the Directorate of Road and Railway Traffic Police, in the first nine months of this year, a total of 4,415,691 individuals took driving license tests nationwide. Among them, 2,886,413 passed, resulting in a pass rate of 65.37%. This means that approximately 34.63% of candidates, or over 1.5 million people, failed the examination. This high failure rate underscores the pressing issue of ensuring road traffic safety within Vietnam. With economic growth, the number of registered vehicles is also on the rise in the one-party state, making the development of traffic infrastructure and adherence to traffic regulations crucial for overall societal stability. Furthermore, obtaining a driving license is a significant step for many Vietnamese citizens, leading to expanded mobility and increased employment opportunities. The low pass rate could potentially impact these rights and opportunities for the populace. While the traffic police suggest that stricter examination standards contribute to safety, balancing this with citizens' access to licenses appears to be a key focus moving forward. The Vietnamese government prioritizes economic growth, actively seeking foreign investment. The automotive industry has benefited from this, but some observers note that domestic traffic infrastructure and safety measures have not kept pace. The results of these driving license tests may reflect some of these growth-related imbalances.