There has been a surge in the number of people cheating to pass their driving theory test.
Research by Auto Express magazine discovered that cases of cheating have tripled in the past five years.
This year alone, more than 1,000 people have been caught cheating using methods such as concealed Bluetooth earpieces or employing surrogates to take the test for them.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency investigated 454 cases of cheating in 2013/14, but that had rocketed to 1,522 during the past twelve months, with the rise attributed in part due to increased CCTV monitoring of tests and better training for test invigilators to identify potential cheats.
Cheating on either the multiple-choice driving theory test, which requires a score of 43/50 to pass, or the hazard-perception test, is a serious offence which risks a fine or even a prison sentence.
Auto Express’ Hugo Griffiths explained, "One of the most common ways of cheating is by using a hidden Bluetooth microphone and earpiece to feed questions to an accomplice outside, and there are cases of offenders even modifying their equipment to make it harder to spot. It's also common for cases to involve candidates switching with an impersonator who knows the test inside out. This is typically a friend, although professional test-takers can also be paid to sit the exam.”
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