Top 10 Driving Test Faults revealed by DVSA

Last month the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) revealed the top 10 reasons candidates failed the new driving test which came into force on 4th December 2017.

Listed below are the 10 most common faults recorded between 4th December 2017 and 3rd December 2018.

  • Junctions – Observations
  • Mirrors – Change direction
  • Control – Steering
  • Junctions – Turning right
  • Move off – Safely
  • Response to signs – Traffic lights
  • Move off – Control
  • Positioning – Normal driving
  • Response to signs – Road markings
  • Reverse park – Control

The data revealed that more than 360,00 test failures were the result of insufficient observation at junctions and ineffective use of mirrors when changing direction.

The factors that cause accidents on Great Britain’s roads are reflected in the faults being made in driving tests.  Observation at junctions, drivers failing to look properly, was the most common contributory factor in accidents and the top reason for driving test fails.  In 2017, failing to look properly was the cause of 39% of all accidents.

Chief Driving Examiner, Mark Winn, said:

It’s vital that learners can drive safely and have the skills to drive on all types of roads before taking their test. The driving test helps get drivers ready for a lifetime of safe driving and makes our roads safer for all. Failing to look properly at junctions is the most common serious or dangerous test fault and the largest cause of accidents in Britain. Good observation, including proper use of mirrors, is a crucial skill that drivers must learn.

As a driver trainer my aim is to teach / coach learners a life skill to prepare them to become thinking drivers who will help make our roads safer.  It is also important to ensure they are fully prepared tor the speed and density of today’s traffic, as well as being able to develop safe attitudes towards themselves and other road users.

In my next blog I will be writing about these faults in more detail and explaining what the examiners will be looking for on the driving test.

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