Are new driving tests easier?
Warranty Direct has analysed over 10 years’ worth of test data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), to reveal the most common reasons people fail their driving tests.
The data found that the tope five reasons for tests candidates to fail their driving tests between 2006-2017 are: observation at junctions, use of mirrors (when changing direction), reverse parking/left reverse, control (steering) and junctions (turning right).
It’s interesting to see reverse manoeuvres were two of the most common reasons people failed their tests, as the ‘reverse around a corner’ and ‘turn-in-the road’ are no longer being examined in the practical driving test.
While the DVSA states learners should still be taught these in lessons, some instructors have warned replacing them with more real-life scenarios, such as driving into and reversing out of a parking bay, will make it easier for learners to pass and won’t teach them ‘real-life dangers’.
This reasoning may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. 2017 had the highest pass rate out of 11 years’ worth of DVSA data. The UK pass rate is currently at 47 percent and has risen by 4 percent since 2006, when the national pass rate was only 43 percent.
The number of tests passed with 0 faults has also gone up drastically in the last year. Back in 2006, this figure was only at 3,329. However, the DVSA results from 2016/2017 show this has gone up over 400 percent, with 17,950 people passing tests with 0 faults.
Simon Ackers, Warranty Direct’s chief executive officer commented, ‘Looking over the last ten years’ worth of DVSA driving test data has been particularly insightful and it’s surprising to see some of the biggest reasons for failing are for less complex driving tasks. It will be interesting to discover the 2018/2019 pass rates and what impact the new changes have on future test results.’
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