Young men, the group most likely to be involved in fatal road crashes, are among those most likely to pass the driving test, figures from the Department of Transport have revealed.
Almost 57 per cent of men passed the test last year, compared with 52.6 per cent of women.
Young drivers between 22 and 25 years of age are more likely to pass the test than any other age group, with a success rate of 59 per cent.
The youngest group of drivers, those aged 16 to 21 have the second highest pass rate at 57.4 per cent, but mature drivers, those over 26 years of age are the least likely to pass at just 51 per cent.
Out of 156,000 people who sat the test last year, 85,300 passed. Just over half of those taking the test for the first time passed, while some 56 per cent passed on their second attempt.
The person most likely to be killed in a car crash is a man between 17 and 25 who has held his licence for less than two years, according to figures from the National Roads Authority and the National Safety Council.
However, the Department of Transport claims the figures do not call into question the standard of the driving test. "The driving test is in line with European standards.
"The number of young males being killed on the roads is a problem and a common theme throughout Europe, not just in Ireland.
"The test and the number of people being killed are two separate issues we don't believe that these recent statistics discredit the test," a spokeswoman for the Department said.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Cullen, was "extremely concerned" with the numbers dying on the roads, 328 have been killed in car crashes so far this year, 20 more than in the same period last year. There was also a huge concern, the spokeswoman said over the high number of young people, particularly young men, dying in road accidents.
"All these issues are of concern to the Department and we are currently awaiting a report from the director of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Professor Desmond Cusack, on the recent trends in road fatalities."
The report would examine all conditions relating to road fatalities, including the ages and gender of victims; the times accidents occur; and the condition and type of roads where accidents occur.
Figures also show that of the 2.2 million motorists on the roads, 367,807 are driving on provisional licences.
The number of licensed vehicles rose by 4.72 per cent, to more than 1.9 million.
Private cars increased from 1,447,900 in 2002 to more than 1.5 million in 2003, a jump of more than 4 per cent.
A total of 188,100 new vehicles and 29,500 imported used vehicles were licensed for the first time in 2003.
The National Car Test showed huge success with a 95 per cent pass rate - 43per cent passed after defects discovered on the initial test were rectified.
