Driver's licence testers are being bashed, threatened, and even held captive by people they've failed - and some are fed up with the abuse.

Documents obtained under the Official Information Act show testers reported physical and verbal abuse at record levels last year, with some expressing serious concerns about their safety.

Some testers refused to get in a car with certain applicants unless a police officer was present.

Enraged drivers who fail their licence tests are taking it out on testers.

Last year, at least two testers were punched in the head, and others were stalked, publicly abused, and even prevented from leaving their workplace by failed applicants.

In the Christchurch suburb of Shirley, a failed applicant "abducted" the tester who failed him.

The "abusive and ranting" driver "wouldn't stop" driving around the suburb with the tester trapped in the van.

In his report, the tester said he escaped when the van stopped at a traffic light two kilometres from the station.

He said his abductor was known to be abusive, and had caused trouble at the testing station before.

Christchurch police did not say if the man was charged over the incident.

The NZDL acknowleded the increase in abuse complaints, and said it introduced training for its officers to help defuse tense situations.

The increase in abuse throughout the country correlates with the introduction of stricter testing in 2012: across 2009, 2010, and 2011, only five complaints were filed.

There were 28 complaints in 2014 alone - nearly double the total of the previous year.

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Abuse towards testing officers had increased since stricter testing was introduced, which meant testers were "risking their lives" on a daily basis, a former tester told Stuff.

The former tester, who asked not to be named, said he quit his job due to stress caused by abusive behaviour from applicants.

"It was a very stressful job. You just didn't know who you were going to encounter. Most were fine, but it only took one to ruin your day," he said.

"It's a very scary job, and I don't envy the guys still working there."

In Christchurch last year, one tester was ordered out of the car and abandoned during a test, and another was told the applicant "would burn my house down and me with it".

"I had a guy come back to me one day because I failed his son… he came back to the office looking for me to sort me out.

"The testing testers have a wee bit of a list - it says be aware of this person, their mother or their father is extremely aggressive... Most of the testing testers I worked with had been threatened at least once."

Testers throughout the country vented their frustration through incident reports to NZ Driver Licensing (NZDL), the company contracted by New Zealand Transport Authority to deliver the tests.

"These kinds of threats are getting very common," one tester wrote, after an applicant threatened to "come back and get him."

"I want NZDL to ring this person's employer - BAN THESE PEOPLE," wrote another, before threatening to file assault charges against an applicant who punched them in the arm.

"I don't know how I controlled myself," another wrote, after being subjected to violent threats, while another worried they would be charged with manslaughter if they killed an abusive applicant in self-defence.

NZDL general manager Gerard Clark acknowledged an increase in abuse towards testers, and said the company had taken steps to mitigate the risks faced by testing officers.

"Any abuse against a testing officer is totally unacceptable and we actively encourage our officers to report any instances to the police... The testing officer has an important job to do and they are not there to be abused because of the emotional outbursts of some applicants," he said

Though the rate of abuse was "unacceptable," he said the number of total tests performed in 2014 had increased by 20 per cent.

Additional customer training was given to testers in response to the increase in abuse, and the company had successfully trialled the use of cameras to record tests.

"With the assistance of a professional trainer, we aimed to help equip our officers with ways to more effectively communicate with applicants so as to recognise and reduce the likelihood of potential conflict and where possible defuse these types of situations."

From incident reports last year:

- In Auckland, a failed applicant walked into an AA office with his wife and child and punched the tester in the jaw, resulting in cuts to the inside of his mouth.

- In Dunedin, applicant attacked tester with both fists. Sustained three blows to head. Checked by ambulance staff, police informed.

- A tester in Northcross (north of Auckland) was trapped in a car park for 90 minutes after the friend of a failed applicant blocked the exit with his car. Police were called to resolve the situation.

- Tester was warned prior to test applicant was aggressive. After failing, applicant said "I will break your glasses" and abused tester for being Indian.

- Tester in Sockburn, Christchurch, harassed over phone by father of applicant. Father then arrived in person to continue harassment. Police report filed.

- In Waikato, applicant arrived without L plates. Yelled "Don't say anything or I'll f--king drop you" at tester in front of wife and kids while storming off.

- West Auckland tester: "Applicant told me she would smash my face, I was a f--king b--ch who only passed Indians and Asians."

- In Manukau, tester followed into office, pushed in shoulder in front of customers. Police informed.

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