Top 10 Reasons People Fail Their Driving Test in the UK (2023)
Understanding the main reasons why candidates fail their driving tests can help you better prepare and increase your chances of passing.
Here's a summary of the top 10 reasons for failures in the UK this year:
- Junction Observation: Failing to properly observe when nearing or leaving junctions. This includes neglecting mirror checks, blind spots, and misjudging the speed of oncoming traffic.
- Mirror Checks When Changing Direction: Not checking mirrors adequately before switching lanes, overtaking, or turning.
- Steering Control: Poor steering control, such as oversteering or understeering, especially during tight manoeuvres like turns and roundabouts.
- Moving Off Safely: Neglecting necessary checks before moving off, including looking over the shoulder to check blind spots.
- Traffic Light Response: Incorrectly responding to traffic lights, including running red lights or stopping too late.
- Road Positioning: Improper road positioning, such as driving too close to the curb or straddling lanes, particularly on bends or narrow roads.
- Road Marking Compliance: Misunderstanding or ignoring road markings, such as stopping in box junctions or crossing solid white lines.
- Indicator Use: Failure to signal correctly or at all when turning, changing lanes, or exiting a roundabout.
- Turning Right at Junctions: Making unsafe right turns due to poor timing or observation.
- Parking Brake Control: Misusing the parking brake, especially on inclines or during hill starts.
These common errors usually stem from a lack of awareness, anticipation, or control. Addressing these areas through practice and understanding road rules can greatly improve your chances of passing the driving test.
