State’S Computer Fails Driver License Exam

Thu., April 8, 1999

From Staff

True or false: Until last week, it was possible to fail the state’s written driver’s test because a state computer sometimes marked correct answers wrong.

True, and here’s why: The state Department of Licensing was months behind in updating software to reflect changes in traffic laws.

Moreover, errors written into the test’s study manual, as well as omissions of other information, are forcing the state to reprint 450,000 manuals put on the shelves just five months ago, state officials said.

There is no way of knowing how many people braved the department’s notorious lines only to fail a test they should have passed, said the agency’s Derek Goudriaan.

The problem surfaced when agency officials decided to rewrite the driver’s handbook to include changes in traffic laws and conform with a federal model.

But sloppy work by agency workers resulted in omissions and errors.

For example, the book fails to mention that the speed limit in a school zone is 20 miles per hour - a question asked on the test. And until last week when the software was updated, the computer test had the legal blood-alcohol content in the state at 0.10 percent, even though the level was lowered to 0.08 in January.

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