"By and large the problem with the system is that it teaches a person what to do to pass a test. This involves a process of manoeuvres, such as checking your blind spot, your mirrors, the way you pull off, the way you park and so on, none of which really taught you about safe driving," Herbert added.

He said in an ideal world, newly licensed drivers would be subject to certain restrictions, such as night driving and the number of people allowed in the car, and then they'd be required to complete a certain number of hours in certain situations before obtaining a full driver's licence.

Corruption is also a key area of concern, Herbert adds, as many licences are fraudulently obtained.

In addition, up to 60% of new licences issued in South Africa are Code 10 licences, which are seen as an easier path, Ntsendwana highlights.

"Most learners choose this option because it is believed to be the best option for job seekers. In addition many learners are encouraged to choose this option in order to avoid parking in the test," Ntsendwana said.

"Unfortunately, driving schools try to avoid the high costs of operating a four-tonne truck by making learners drive very simple routes at such low speed that learners can pass the test without ever having gone over third gear or 40km/h!

"In addition, the yard test for Code 10 is so basic that a learner can pass the test with as little as five hours of training. To take advantage of this, unscrupulous driving schools offer 'Drive till you pass' packages with unlimited lessons and test attempts.”

Another problem faced by learners in low income areas is that while undergoing training they are required to share the vehicle with at least one or more learners during their hour of training, Ntsendwana added.

Furthermore many driving school trainers do not have any advanced driving qualifications or knowledge of defensive driving for that matter.

"In South Africa the test centres do not require a learner to provide a training log or to be accompanied by an accredited driving instructor. For this reason most driving instructors are not qualified at all."

Rob Handfield-Jones, Managing Director of Driving.co.za, feels it all went wrong in the mid-1990s when government removed the requirement for learner driving instructors to be qualified to a high standard.

“The industry very rapidly transitioned from a collection of top-class professionals whose pupils routinely got first-time passes, to a predomination of chancers whose own driving standards, charitably, are suspect,” Handfield-Jones told MyBroadband.

Ultimately the experts agree that the K53 still passes muster as an 'entry-level' test, which can teach a person to drive a car. But it falls short in equipping new drivers with the skills to respond in a dangerous or complex situation.

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