LCQ2: Impacts of driver training and road tests on traffic
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Question:
There are views pointing out that traffic congestion in some districts (such as Happy Valley) is caused by the fact that roads in those districts are part of the driving test (road test) routes, and learner drivers, due to their lack of experience, often fail to drive their vehicles at an appropriate speed, thereby obstructing other vehicles on the road. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has assessed the impacts of the various road test routes on the traffic in the respective districts over the past three years, including whether such routes are suitable for continued use as road test routes in the light of factors such as population growth and changes in traffic flow; if it has assessed, of the assessment results; if not, whether the Government has plans to conduct such an assessment;
(2) given that the Government established a new driving test centre in Yuen Long last year, whether the Government has specific plans to set up new test centres in urban areas or relocate some of the existing test centres to alleviate the pressure on the existing test centres; if so, of the current progress; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) as it is learnt that the Mainland will adopt a "closed-course test" model, whereby learner drivers will complete most test items within closed venues to significantly reduce their time spent on public roads, whether the Government has considered introducing the same model; if so, of the specific measures and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government has all along attached great importance to the provision of driving test services and been striving to maintain an effective driving training and testing system for promotion of road safety. In respect of the driver training policy, the Government has long adopted a "two-pronged approach" by encouraging the provision of off-street driver training through the establishment of designated driving schools on the one hand; while maintaining a sufficient supply of private driving instructors for on-street driver training on the other. In the meantime, the Government has spared no efforts in balancing the needs of learner drivers and other road users.
The reply to the question raised by Professor the Hon Lau Chi-pang is as follows:
(1) Currently, there are a total of 17 driving test centres (DTCs) in Hong Kong, including five located within designated driving schools. Each DTC has more than one route for road tests for the same vehicle class, with similar testing time for each route. These routes have in place the required test items for road tests, such as traffic signals and road junctions, to test the performance of candidates. As traffic conditions of each route vary from time to time, candidates are required to respond to the road conditions accordingly to demonstrate that they possess sufficient driving capabilities and skills while giving due regard to other road users.
The aforesaid test routes and their vicinities have become the primary area for driver training. To ease the burden on road traffic during peak hours, driver training activities are prohibited on all roads across the territory (except where traffic signs or other legal provisions prohibit such activities) during morning and afternoon peak hours (from 7.30am to 9.30am and from 4.30pm to 7.30pm respectively) from Mondays to Fridays. The morning peak hour restriction also applies on Saturdays. Meanwhile, the Transport Department (TD) has been taking suitable measures to strike a balance between the need for conducting on-street road tests or driver training and the impact on the traffic, including adopting different routes for vehicles undergoing road tests in the light of the actual traffic conditions, as well as liaising with the Police to step up enforcement actions on the roads concerned.
In addition, the TD continuously monitors the driver training activities in the vicinities of the DTCs, conducts inspections on the traffic conditions of the area from time to time and review the road test routes as necessary. On driving learning activities, the TD may, in the light of the latest development and actual road traffic conditions of individual districts, designate suitable road sections as prohibited areas where learner drivers are not allowed to enter and undergo driver training. On road test routes, the TD may adjust them as necessary to disperse the impact of road tests or driver training on the traffic flow of the relevant road sections. From 2023 to 2025, upon reviews, the TD adjusted certain test routes or replaced the original test routes with new ones at three DTCs (namely Pui Ching Road DTC in Kowloon, Siu Lek Yuen DTC in Sha Tin, and Yuen Long DTC in the New Territories) so as to disperse the traffic flow of the road sections concerned. Following the adjustments, the traffic flow along the test routes has been generally smooth. The TD will continue to closely monitor the traffic conditions in the vicinities of various DTCs.
(2) The TD has been striving to identify suitable sites in the territory for setting up additional and more widely-distributed DTCs, with a view to alleviating the pressure on the existing ones. Such sites have to meet various requirements such as being suitably located for testing whether the candidates have mastered all necessary driving skills, and having sufficient traffic flow for the observation of the candidates' abilities in handling different road conditions, while the Government attaches great importance and also takes into account the views of different stakeholders in the vicinities, before they can be considered well suited for conducting driving tests. It is therefore no easy task to identify replacement sites that are more suitable than the existing DTCs, especially in urban areas.
Given the scarcity of public road resources, the TD has all along encouraged the trade to establish designated driving schools that are equipped with their own training venues. The Government will proactively consider and approve applications from operators who can offer sites that meet the requirements, including the permitted land use and space for accommodating basic driver training and testing facilities for a driving school.
(3) According to the TD's understanding, the driving test models in Hong Kong and the Mainland are similar, both consisting of three parts: (i) a written test; (ii) a field driving skills test; and (iii) a road test. Among these, the road tests in both places are conducted on public roads.
As for the field driving skills test, among the 17 DTCs in Hong Kong, 12 DTCs conduct the test within their premises, which is similar to the "closed-course test" model of the field driving skills test on the Mainland. The remaining five DTCs, due to site constraints, require the relevant driving competence tests to be conducted on public roads.
The TD will continue to closely monitor the traffic and road test conditions in the vicinity of various DTCs, and adjust the routes or locations of the test items as necessary, so as to balance the needs of learner drivers and other road users. In the long run, when identifying sites for DTCs, the TD will also strive to consider locations that allow driving competence tests to be conducted within the premises, with a view to further reducing the use of public roads.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Issued at HKT 13:03
Issued at HKT 13:03
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