Misleading Use of Pass Rates
CBR publishes pass rates as if they were objective quality indicators. In practice, some schools exploit loopholes by maintaining multiple accounts. Strong candidates are booked through the main account, while weaker or less-prepared students are registered under secondary accounts.
The result is an artificially high pass rate that is then marketed as proof of superior quality. Learners and parents believe they are choosing a high-quality school, but in reality, this often means:
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students must take many more lessons before being allowed to test,
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total costs rise significantly,
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actual chances of passing are lower than advertised.
Impact of Abolishing the Mid-Term Test
The recent abolition of the mid-term test (tussentijdse toets) has worsened inequality. Scheduled mid-term tests were automatically converted into full driving exams, forcing many students to test even though they were not ready.
Consequences included:
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pass rates plummeting from 70–80% to around 30% for some schools,
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increased stress and unnecessary failure experiences for learners,
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loss of educational and pedagogical value in the training process.
Structural Inequality
These practices create a distorted market:
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Large driving schools strengthen their market position using manipulated figures.
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Smaller, often high-quality schools lose students and revenue.
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Fair competition disappears, while road safety and consumer trust are undermined.
Legal and Policy Questions
The current system raises serious questions about legality and consumer protection. Under the General Administrative Law Act (Awb) and Dutch consumer law, decisions must be transparent and carefully prepared.
Yet, there is little oversight of how pass rates are presented and used in marketing. Consumers are misled into making decisions based on manipulated statistics, while smaller schools are structurally disadvantaged.
Call for Independent Investigation
We urge an independent investigation into:
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The use of multiple CBR accounts by driving schools and the CBR’s role in this.
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The impact of the pass rate policy on consumer protection and market competition.
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The pedagogical consequences of abolishing the mid-term test.
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The decision-making structures within the CBR and the extent of industry participation.
All relevant statistical data already exists within the CBR. The key issue is to analyze it objectively, publish the findings transparently, and take measures to ensure equal opportunities, consumer protection, and market integrity.
Conclusion
The CBR pass rate policy misleads consumers and creates structural inequality in the driving school industry. Learners and parents face higher costs and lower success rates, while large schools benefit disproportionately.
It is time for reform: a transparent system, fair oversight, and policies that provide equal opportunities for both large and small schools.