Driving license B, those who fail in the province of Brescia
According to the latest data released by Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Italy appears to face a significant obstacle in obtaining a category B driving licence, the one for driving ordinary cars.
In 2023, a worrying percentage of Lombardy candidates failed the theory test with 40.7% of aspiring drivers failing to pass the exam.
This figure, unfortunately, is slightly above the national average, which stands at 39.9%. A result that raises questions about the quality of preparation and the effectiveness of training programs for future drivers. In Lombardy, the province of Pavia is positioned approximately in the middle of the table in terms of percentage of failures.
39.60% fail the written test
With a margin of 3% compared to the national average, 39.6% of Pavia candidates in 2023 had to face the disappointment of not passing the test. But which are the other Lombard provinces most affected by this phenomenon? In first place we find Brescia with a rejection rate of 42.7%, followed by Mantua with 41.9%.
The complete table with all the cities in Lombardy:
| PROVINCE | TOTAL NO. OF THEORY EXAMS | % ELIGIBLE | % REJECTED |
| BRESCIA | 22 912 | 57.30% | 42.70% |
| MANTUA | 5 210 | 58.10% | 41.90% |
| CREMONA | 6 554 | 58.70% | 41.30% |
| COMO | 9 278 | 58.80% | 41.20% |
| MILAN | 67 442 | 58.90% | 41.10% |
| BERGAMO | 21 352 | 59.20% | 40.80% |
| PAVIA | 8 457 | 60.40% | 39.60% |
| PRAISE | 3 801 | 60.80% | 39.20% |
| VARESE | 14 541 | 61.10% | 38.90% |
| LECCO | 4 116 | 65.00% | 35.00% |
| SONDRIO | 2 456 | 67.60% | 32.50% |
| LOMBARDY | 166 119 | 59.30% | 40.70% |
This is the case of Sondrio which records the lowest percentage of theory failures with only 32.5% of rejections. Lecco and Varese are also below the regional average, with 35% and 38% not passing respectively. The provinces of Lodi and Pavia are in line with the national average.
How did you go on the practical driving test
| PROVINCE | % ELIGIBLE | % REJECTED |
| MANTUA | 74.20% | 25.80% |
| LECCO | 76.10% | 24.00% |
| PRAISE | 79.50% | 20.50% |
| COMO | 81.00% | 19.00% |
| MILAN | 81.00% | 19.00% |
| LOMBARDY | 82.60% | 17.40% |
| BERGAMO | 83.90% | 16.10% |
| CREMONA | 84.70% | 15.30% |
| BRESCIA | 84.80% | 15.20% |
| VARESE | 85.70% | 14.40% |
| SONDRIO | 90.50% | 9.50% |
| PAVIA | 93.70% | 6.30% |
How many drivers would pass the test today?
HERE IS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN 2023:
| Promoted theory | Promoted guide | |
| CAMPANIA | 60.40% | 97.40% |
| MOLISE | 57.40% | 95.60% |
| PUGLIA | 62.50% | 95.20% |
| SICILY | 64.40% | 95.00% |
| BASILICATA | 60.10% | 94.30% |
| CALABRIA | 61.30% | 92.60% |
| ABRUZZO | 60.30% | 92.00% |
| LAZIO | 56.00% | 86.00% |
| NATIONAL | 60.10% | 85.00% |
| MARCHE | 58.00% | 84.50% |
| PIEDMONT | 60.60% | 83.30% |
| LOMBARDY | 59.30% | 82.60% |
| TUSCANY | 57.10% | 81.20% |
| VENETO | 63.00% | 80.30% |
| EMILIA ROMAGNA | 61.80% | 78.10% |
| FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA | 62.80% | 77.60% |
| VALLE D’AOSTA | 59.80% | 74.90% |
| UMBRIA | 59.50% | 74.30% |
| LIGURIA | 57.40% | 72.20% |
| TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE | 57.20% | 71.80% |
| SARDINIA | 61.20% | 68.30% |
According to an analysis conducted by AutoScout24 and Egaf edizioni, in collaboration with the main Italian driving school associations Confarca and Unasca, only 22.1% of Lombards (who have had their driving license for at least 5 years) would be able to pass the theoretical driving license exam if they had to take it today!
HOW MANY HAVE PASSED THE TEST
| % PROMOTED | |
| LAZIO | 31.70% |
| EMILIA ROMAGNA | 28.00% |
| VENETO | 24.60% |
| LIGURIA | 24.30% |
| SARDINIA | 24.10% |
| FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA | 24.00% |
| UMBRIA | 23.30% |
| LOMBARDY | 22.10% |
| PIEDMONT | 20.00% |
| PUGLIA | 19.80% |
| TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE | 19.60% |
| VALLE D’AOSTA | 19.00% |
| CAMPANIA | 18.70% |
| ABRUZZO | 18.60% |
| TUSCANY | 18.30% |
| MARCHE | 15.40% |
| SICILY | 13.90% |
| BASILICATA | 12.30% |
| CALABRIA | 11.80% |
| MOLISE | 6.90% |
| NATIONAL | 22.30% |
The data that emerged in Lombardy, which is close to the national average of 22.3%, highlights an often overlooked aspect: the importance of constantly updating yourself on the rules of the highway code.
But what exactly does this result imply?
First of all, this is not a complete failure. The sample of Lombard citizens answered correctly on average 15 questions out of 20, a figure that suggests a good basic knowledge of the regulations. It is errors on specific topics that affect the final result. Among the aspects that generated greater uncertainty were the quizzes regarding warning lights and road signs. These are key points that require precise application of the rules and regulations of road behavior.
Constant updating required
But what are the causes of this discrepancy between the theoretical knowledge acquired at the time of the exam and current reality? One of the main factors is the continuous changes to the highway code over the years. Regulations may be subject to reviews, updates and modifications, often in response to new road safety needs or developments in the urban and technological landscape.
Furthermore, many drivers may fall into the illusion of “regulatory stability”, thinking that once they obtain their license it is not necessary to continue studying. However, reality shows that to maintain safe and responsible driving it is essential to remain constantly updated on current regulations.
