Chatty or formal? Let L-drivers pick style of examiners, says study

Having a grumpy person sitting next to you in the car can be a distraction at the best of times, but it is all the worse when they are your driving examiner.

- Robyn Vinter

In an attempt to avoid "potential anxiety" during tests and boost female pass rates, a government agency has suggested asking candidates if they would like their examiner to be "chatty" or "formal".

A report by the transport research group TRL, which proposed the measure, said men were found to be less affected by their examiner, while women were more likely to notice and interpret an examiner's behaviour and demeanour, and that this might prompt "self-judgment and worry about how they are doing".

Men are more likely than women to pass a driving test, according to records dating back to 2007, with the annual pass rate for male candidates ranging from 47% to 55%, while for female candidates it is 41% to 48%.