Top ten reasons learners fail their driving test revealed by the DVSA – and how to get it right

EARNING your driver’s license requires hours of experience, steady hands and a healthy degree of confidence.

But even the most competent road users can crumble on the day of their test, despite their legion of successful lessons.

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It seems there is a recurring theme throughout failed tests across the UK, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The government body has revealed the ten most common mistakes learners are making with an examiner watching.

Road chiefs want to clear the pile-up of learners desperate to book their tests that has spilled into 2023.

In an attempt to ease the mammoth backlog of driving tests due to repeated Covid lockdowns, the DVSA want to help wannabe drivers swerve avoidable errors.

It’s in the hopes that instructors can concentrate on certain techniques that examiners often find errors in.

First up is not making effective observations at junctions – which has proved one of the main culprits for failures.

You need to be constantly on the ball – but thousands of Brits also forget to use their mirrors correctly when changing direction.

This spills into learner’s third most common blunder, which is taking up the incorrect position when turning right at junctions.

But don’t get too distracted when paying attention to the traffic, as driving students often flop because they don’t move off safely.

Another regular gaffe that stops people passing is not responding appropriately to traffic lights.

As well as this, the DVSA warned poor positioning on the road during normal driving is one of the top ten reasons for failing.

Not responding correctly to traffic signs is also a frequent fault committed during driving tests.

Not having control of the vehicle when moving off and not keeping control of the vehicle during reverse parking also made the list of no-nos.

The release of the top ten recurring mishaps have been praised by driving instructors keen to get their clients driving.

Peter Brabin, Head of Training at Bill Plant said: “It’s really interesting to have this data broken down by the DVSA, highlighting exactly what UK learner drivers are most commonly struggling with when on their driving tests.

“What’s somewhat surprising is that a lot of the most common test failures are some of the very first things you’re taught when you get behind the wheel.

“That clearly just goes to show that maintaining a regular pattern of lessons is important to keep up the fundamentals, and that nerves can play a large part in the test experience which causes silly mistakes that you wouldn’t expect.

“While we obviously want as many learner drivers passing their driving test and enjoying the freedom on the road that many of us are fortunate enough to enjoy, this just goes to show why it’s imperative learner drivers are properly scrutinised on their test.

“None of us want unsteady, uncertain and unsafe drivers on the road, causing more accidents and issues and more rebooked driving tests.

“Safety must be the upmost priority – it always has been and always will be.”