Complaints against testing officers have doubled during the first nine months of the new driver licence tests.

Thirteen complaints were laid against one testing officer but none were upheld.

The NZ Transport Agency changed the driver licence tests on February 27 last year to improve the driving standard required to drive alone on New Zealand roads.

Figures obtained by The Wellingtonian under the Official Information Act showed 41 complaints were filed against testing officers from February 27 till November 30 last year, compared to 13 in the same time period in 2011.

Only three of the complaints were upheld.

"All complaints are investigated fully and whether a complaint is upheld depends on the circumstances of the test in question," said Jim Furneaux, principal adviser driver testing and training standards.

"This is a more challenging test, the pass rate has dropped, and people tend to make complaints when they fail, not when they pass.

"An increase in complaints is not unexpected."

Wellington resident Sabah Okleh has been trying to get his restricted licence for two years.

He failed four tests in 2010 before the test changes and failed again after the changes.

After his latest test, last November, he complained to NZ Driver Licensing, which runs the testing and is contracted by the NZ Transport Agency.

He alleged that one of the testers had blacklisted him.

"I failed my first test because of a tiny pin hole in my indicator light," he said.

"My tester was horrible about it. I asked him why he was always mean to everyone, because I had heard about him before.

"He told me he wasn't, but that he would make sure his friends knew about me and that when I went to take the test again I would never pass."

Mr Okleh's complaint was not upheld because NZ Driver Licensing said there was no proof the testing officer had told anyone about Mr Okleh, the testing officer denied the allegations, and legitimate reasons were provided for the tests being stopped or failed. They were written on the test sheet given to Mr Okleh.

Mr Furneaux said he encouraged Mr Okleh to contact NZ Transport Agency directly if he was not satisfied with the response he had received from NZ Driver Licensing.

When a complaint is made, NZ Driver Licensing investigates the situation and sends a letter to the complainant regarding the outcome.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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