Driving test pass rates slump to 10-year low
Driving test pass rates in the UK have slumped to a 10-year low. Only 45.5 percent of candidates who have taken a test since a new look driving test was launched in December 2017, have passed. Are changes to the test behind the lowest driving test pass percentage in a decade?
According to learner drivers taking the new look test, it’s harder, which could explain why driving test pass rates have plummeted to a 10-year low over the last 12 months. The practical driving test was updated and relaunched on 4 December, 2017 with the introduction of new manoeuvres and sat-nav led driving.
New driving test harder?
New driver testing was introduced to better replicate real-world driving, and it would seem that many candidates are struggling to get to grips with the new test. As well as driving test pass rates plummeting overall, there has been a slump in the number of candidates passing the test first time.
Meanwhile, the average number of test attempts before passing has increased from two to three, indicating that the practical test has increased in difficulty.
Learner drivers support new test
However, despite a seemingly harder driving test, learner drivers support the updates and additional changes in the future, recognising that getting experience of modern driving will make them better road users.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research, Neil Greig, said: “Research from around the world shows that getting as much experience of driving in as wide a range of traffic conditions as possible will make you a safer driver in the long run.”
“Learning to drive is an investment in your future so it’s not worth rushing it. Once you have passed your test you will still need to perfect your observation, anticipation and planning skills to ensure you survive on our increasingly congested roads,” Greig added.
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Tags: Better Driving Guide