ALMOST 1,000 learner drivers had to have an interpreter sit in on their driving test in Sussex in the last three years because they didn’t have a strong enough command of English.

In the same period almost 5,000 Sussex learners requested to sit a theory test exam in a different language.

The figures, which were obtained following a Freedom of Information request to the Driving Standards Agency, came as the Government announced it was looking into ways to ban foreign language driving tests.

The highest number of drivers needing an interpreter for tests from Sussex centres was 514 in 2009/10.

By the end of August, 91 drivers had requested that an interpreter sit in on their test.

The figures relate to nine driving test centres in Sussex in Burgess Hill, Chichester, Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings, Lancing, Worthing and the Brighton and Hove practical test centre, which closed in January 2009.

The most frequently request-ed foreign languages for theory tests were Polish, Turkish and Arabic with more than 500 drivers each, although requests were also made for tests in the Persian dialect of Dari, Kurdish, Tamil and the Indian languages Gujarati, Urdu and Hindi.

Although the cost of the translators for a practical test is met by the person taking the test, the cost of translating |theory tests into different languages is met by the taxpayer.

Speaking last month, transport minister Mike Penning said that the government was studying how to change the rules to ban “politically correct” foreign language tests. Ministers have decided to act amid fears that foreign drivers may have higher accident rates on British roads. However their attempts may fall foul of anti-discrimination laws.

Mr Penning said: “I find it incredible that Labour thought it was a good idea to let people without a basic grasp of English loose on our roads. Road safety should be our priority, not political correctness.”

However Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA, said he did not feel drivers who didn’t speak English would pose a road safety threat.

He said: “Fundamentally road signs are designed to be symbolic and so reading ability isn’t a factor.”