As British Columbia updates its Graduated Licensing Program by removing the Class 5 road test, former East Kootenay Driver Examiners Cody Martin and Laura Slack are sharing a front-line perspective on what this means for road safety, saying they believe it removes an important safeguard in B.C.’s graduated licensing system.

After years of conducting road tests in the East Kootenay region, Martin and Slack recently chose to leave ICBC and establish Smart Drivers of Canada, where they now provide professional driver training as a DriveWise BC affiliate.

“As Driver Examiners, we were on the front line every day evaluating drivers from all walks of life,” said Martin. “We witnessed firsthand the driving habits, mistakes, and safety concerns that many new drivers brought to their Class 5 road tests. That experience gave us a unique perspective on just how important the exit exam was.”

Although they tested primarily in smaller communities, both emphasize that a Class 5 licence provides the privilege to drive anywhere in British Columbia, across Canada, and in many countries around the world.

“A driver who earns a full Class 5 licence may eventually find themselves navigating major urban centres, complex freeway systems, and high-speed traffic,” said Slack. “The responsibility that comes with unrestricted driving privileges is significant, and we believe demonstrating those skills through a final practical assessment is an important part of earning that privilege.”

Martin and Slack note that throughout their careers they consistently recorded Class 5 road test failure rates between 70 and 85%, reinforcing their belief that many drivers still required additional development before receiving a full licence.

“Those numbers weren’t just statistics to us,” said Martin. “They represented real people who, on that particular day, were not yet demonstrating the level of safe driving expected for an unrestricted licence. Removing that assessment raises legitimate road safety concerns.”

The pair also expressed disappointment that, from their perspective, frontline driver examiners were not meaningfully involved in the consultation process leading up to the decision.

“The people conducting these road tests every day bring valuable practical experience,” said Slack. “While we understand there are pressures such as reducing wait times, we believe decisions that affect public road safety should include the voices of those who have firsthand knowledge of how new drivers perform behind the wheel.”

They acknowledge that the licensing system is evolving but hope driver education will continue to play an increasingly important role.

“If the Class 5 road test is no longer part of the process, quality driver education becomes even more critical,” added Slack. “Our commitment is to help produce safe, confident, responsible drivers who understand that driving is a privilege that carries lifelong responsibility.”

e-KNOW file photos

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