Driver's tests now automated

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is now implementing the automated driver's tests nationwide.

The LTO recently installed the Automated Driver's License Examination System (ADLES) in its licensing centers and district offices that process driver's licensing transactions requiring written examination. This is part of the system enhancements to the Driver's Licensing System (DLS) under the LTO-Information Technology Project, which is being implemented by the project proponent, Stradcom Corporation.

Manually generated and corrected driver's tests provided the opportunity for errors and tampering of data, but with ADLES in place, these problems will be greatly reduced, if not totally eliminated.

With ADLES, no two tests are alike since the computer randomly selects questions from a bank of questions and prints out the unique exam. Once the applicant completes the test, the answer sheet is fed into the scanner. The answers are then captured from the document using the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) software. A link with the LTO-IT System's database automatically posts the score to the applicant's driving record.

"We are helping LTO enhance the driver's test to make sure that applicants for a driver's license are ready and fit to drive," said Stradcom Chief Operating Officer Ramon G. Reyes. "Understanding driving and traffic laws and regulations and interpreting traffic signals and road signs are basic requirements of safe driving."

The ADLES will ensure that the result of the examination is a true measure of the applicant's aptitude to drive, thus public safety is further promoted.

Not all applicants for driver's license are required to take the written test; these are usually individuals who are new drivers. The tests are offered in English and Tagalog.

For non-professional license, an applicant must score at least 30 out of the 40 multiple-choice questions. On the other hand, an applicant must score at least 45 out of 60 questions and 18 out of 25 questions for professional license and conductor's permit, respectively. Applicants who fail the exam must wait for 1 month to retest.

i feel for the next generation of drivers who are gonna have it harder