New research reveals the main reason learners fail their driving test

Passing your driving test can be difficult. On average, not even half of drivers fail the test the first time, with a pass rate of around 48%.

They’re tough for a reason – to make sure learner drivers are safe enough to drive on the nation’s roads. There are many ways you can fail, but getting through it can lead to decades of happy driving and freedom.

New research has revealed the most common reasons people have failed their driving test over the past five years – as well as the top 10 hardest driving test centers to pass.

• The most common mistake in driving tests in April 2018 was not looking properly at intersections.
• Speke became the most difficult driving test center in the UK in 2023. Out of 9398 tests taken, only 3106 led to passes, resulting in a pass rate of just 33.05%.
• The average pass rate for the 289 automotive test centers in the ACTRONICS LTD study was 50.27%.

Car electronics manufacturer ACTRONICS LTD analyzed data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to reveal the top five faults recorded in April 2018 driving tests.

The most common mistake in driving tests in April 2018 was not looking properly at intersections. Failure to properly assess the road and check for oncoming traffic, pedestrians and cyclists before entering or crossing intersections was a prevalent problem among test takers.

The second most common failure involves improper use of mirrors during direction changes. Neglecting to check mirrors before signaling or changing lanes, turning or overtaking was a common problem, leading to missed hazards and potential collisions.

Difficulty turning right at intersections is the third most common mistake in driving tests. These include errors such as misjudging gaps in traffic, failing to position the vehicle correctly, or neglecting to yield to oncoming vehicles.

Poor steering control is the fourth most common fault. This includes issues such as crossing hands while turning, oversteer or failure to maintain a steady course, which can compromise vehicle control and safety.

Failure to move safely from a stationary position completes the top five faults in the April 2018 driving tests. This fault includes failing to observe before pulling over, stalling the vehicle or neglecting to signal properly, underscoring the importance of enforcement the movement. the correct shutdown procedure.

DVSA data also shows which of the UK’s 289 driving test centers were the hardest to pass in 2023.

The hardest driving test centers to pass

Speke became the most difficult driving test center in the UK in 2023. Out of 9398 tests taken, only 3106 led to passes, resulting in a pass rate of just 33.05%. Following closely behind, Wolverhampton secured second place on the list of toughest driving test centres. With 14561 tests taken, only 4818 candidates managed to pass, resulting in a pass rate of 33.09%.

Featherstone proved to be another formidable location for the driving tests, ranking third in difficulty. Out of 12,417 tests, 4,265 resulted in passes, yielding a 34.35% pass rate. In the heart of London, Belvedere has emerged as one of the most difficult places to get a driving licence. With 3490 tests taken, only 1234 candidates managed to pass, resulting in a pass rate of 35.36%.

Wednesbury came fifth on the list of the most difficult driving test centres. Out of 7960 tests taken, 2904 resulted in passes, resulting in a pass rate of 36.48%. Another London centre, Chingford, secured sixth place in terms of difficulty. With 14381 tests taken, only 5251 candidates managed to pass, resulting in a pass rate of 36.51%.

Liverpool’s Norris Green has maintained its position as one of the toughest driving test centres. Out of 12864 tests taken, 4702 resulted in passes, resulting in a pass rate of 36.55%. Rochdale has become one of the most difficult places to pass a driving test outside of London. With 6941 tests taken, only 2575 candidates managed to pass, resulting in a pass rate of 37.10%.

Crawley, located in the south of England, proved to be another challenging location for the driving tests. Out of 6595 tests taken, only 2477 resulted in passes, giving a pass rate of 37.56%. Rounding out the top 10, Leicester’s Cannock Street test center presented considerable challenges for aspiring drivers. With 14382 tests taken, 5447 candidates managed to pass, resulting in a pass rate of 37.87%.

An ACTRONICS spokesperson commented: “To put these figures into perspective, the average pass rate for the 289 driving test centers in the study was 50.27%. And the driving test center that had the highest pass rate was Arbroath in Scotland, out of 560 tests, 413 people were successful, resulting in an overall pass rate of 73.75%.