Qld Transport to take learner drivers online

Queensland Transport is looking to ditch its paper-based test for aspiring learner drivers in favour of a fully hosted and managed online assessment.

The department late last week approached the market for a solutions provider to implement an online and interactive learner driver assessment.

It said research had shown that its current process - where aspiring drivers study a book and sit a 30-question written test on the road rules at a motor registry - may not be the most effective approach to learning.

On average, licence applicants visit a transport centre 1.5 times before passing the test, which is "resource intensive for both TMR customers and staff".

Licence staff supervise the written test, mark the paper responses, and record the results into the Transport and Main Roads system.

Transport wants to shift its focus away from simply teaching road rules to young drivers by rote to influencing safer driver behaviours and attitudes.

"We recognise that for new drivers, we need a fundamental change in culture and attitudes to road safety, and as part of our journey, there is an opportunity to help new drivers improve their knowledge and skills through more effective learning," the department said in tender documents.

An "interactive online learning and assessment solution" will include tests to verify the learner’s understanding and application of content, the agency said.

"This solution is as much about learning the road rules, as it is helping to develop safe driving behaviours before learners are issued with their learner licence."

It is asking for a fully hosted 'eLearnerDriver Solution' that will be able to support 2000 users concurrently and up to 100,000 new users a year.

Transport has asked for a single supplier partner and is offering a three-year contract with five optional extensions of one year.

The department issued 82,527 learner driver licenses in the 2014-15 year, and processed 122,695 written theory tests.