Training rule boosts MPI road-test pass rate

The overall pass rate for road tests taken by new drivers increased by seven per cent, one year after Manitoba Public Insurance introduced enhanced training for people who had repeatedly failed the practical exam.

The Crown corporation announced the rise in pass rates Wednesday and attributed it to the introduction of the training support requirement last November. Under the policy, drivers who fail the road test three times must complete five hours of training with an accredited instructor before they can schedule another exam.

The change was introduced in response to the high fail rate and extended wait times for people needing to book road tests, MPI spokesperson Tara Seel said.

“We determined that we needed to address the people who were taking this test four (or more) times and still not passing. That was the problem,” Seel said.

“They weren’t prepared to be out on the road, and not only was that creating a backlog with wait times, it was also creating a safety issue with our examiners in the vehicle, with the public sharing the roadway.”

Drivers who require additional training can expect to spend about $300 to $500. The money goes to the accredited instructor, and MPI does not get a portion, Seel said.

She said safety is the paramount concern and acknowledged the added cost might frustrate wannabe drivers.

“We want to make sure that people who are out there practising and out there taking their road test, that they have the training that they need to be safe,” she said.

“I can absolutely appreciate the frustration because it is more time, it is more dollars, but I also hope that parents take a step back and realize that this is about the safety of their children and about everybody else sharing the roadway with them.

More than 83,000 road tests were held last year.

The first-attempt pass rate rose to 45 per cent from Nov. 15, 2024, to Nov. 14, 2025. That’s up from 39 per cent the previous year and 41 per cent in 2022-23.

Of those who failed the test, 26 per cent passed on their second attempt; 13 per cent passed on their third attempt; and 14 per cent passed on their fourth or later attempt, MPI data show.

MPI said there were about 6,000 fewer fourth or higher attempts compared to last year. For those who did require four attempts, the pass rate rose by 11 per cent.

“The numbers show that the (training support requirement) is working for Manitobans. With the additional training that is required after three failed attempts, drivers are arriving better prepared, fewer are retesting multiple times, and those who do retest are passing more often,” the release said.

Seel said the reduction in repeat tests means more people can get appointments.

Class 5 road tests are typically available within one week in most areas of the province, MPI said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca