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Installation of touch-screen driver's licence
testing equipment completed statewide

Touch-screen testing stations that provide immediate confirmation of pass or fail on driver's license tests are available statewide as part of a technology initiative by the Idaho Transportation Department's Division of Motor Vehicles.

ITD received two $500,000 grants from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to purchase an Automated Driver License Testing System (ADLTS) for deployment in county sheriff's driver licensing offices across the state.

The statewide system was installed in two phases. The first phase, completed in late 2006, installed computer test stations in 19 counties. Installation of new computer test stations in all of the remaining counties was completed earlier this year, with all software components installed and fully operational this month.

Automated testing provides a consistent and secure method to administer knowledge tests, using touch-screen technology. Automated testing reduces fraud and minimizes the opportunity for cheating on the knowledge test by scrambling test questions and making each test unique. That provides a safety benefit because there is a greater likelihood that only qualified drivers will be issued drivers licenses

An automated testing system provides tools for centralized test creation, report generation and security administration conducted by authorized ITD and county personnel. Examiners assign applicants the appropriate tests and test stations, monitor tests in progress, display and print test results, generate selected reports and perform other routine functions.

The new system replaces padded paper tests, eliminates inventory control of paper forms, automates scoring and simplifies test management and record keeping. It also provides better statistical information and reduces the chance that test copies can be distributed.

The automated testing system offers all CDL tests in English, Mexican Spanish, Serbo-Croatian and Russian. The Class D test is available in English, Mexican Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Serbo-Croatian. The motorcycle test is available in both English and Mexican Spanish.

Additional languages may be added to specific test types as required. The system also provides headphones for taking aural tests in English and Spanish for CDL and Class D licenses.

A quick-fail feature has been added to the testing system that stops the test when the applicant has answered enough questions to either pass or fail the test. This feature allows for faster testing and efficient processing of applicants.