Skip to main content

Safer roads for the UK with tougher tests?

The UK’s driving test has been made far tougher in recent times, in a bid to boost safety. Some people take up to 21 attempts to pass their practical test, according to data from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The information covers every year between 2009 and 2018. In 2016, one driver passed at the 21st attempt in one year. Another driver took 19 attempts to pass in 2018. Meanwhile one learner failed 19 tests in 2009, 2015 and 2017. The car driving test pass rate was 45.8% for the 2018/
July 24, 2019 Read time: 1 min

The UK’s driving test has been made far tougher in recent times, in a bid to boost safety. Some people take up to 21 attempts to pass their practical test, according to data from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The information covers every year between 2009 and 2018.

In 2016, one driver passed at the 21st attempt in one year. Another driver took 19 attempts to pass in 2018. Meanwhile one learner failed 19 tests in 2009, 2015 and 2017.

The car driving test pass rate was 45.8% for the 2018/19 period. This was the lowest figure since 45.3% for the 2008/9 period. In all 18,922 learners passed the practical test with zero faults for the 2018/19 period. This was an improvement over 18,410 for the 2017/18 period.

Related Content

  • Safer roads for US state of Washington?
    May 30, 2012
    The US state of Washington is introducing tougher rules against cell phone use while driving. The state also now has a tough line against drivers sending texts while at the wheel. The new rules have been commended by US transportation secretary Ray LaHood. From now on using a cell-phone without a hands-free kit or sending a text while at the wheel is a primary offense in Washington State. This new law strengthens Washington's 2008 ban which allowed law enforcement officials to ticket drivers caught using th
  • Drug driving a risk in the UK
    March 8, 2021
    Drug driving is a hidden risk in the UK.
  • TISPOL Conference: autonomous vehicles high on safety agenda
    February 2, 2017
    Safety and autonomous vehicles exercised the minds of some of Europe’s senior police officers at the recent TISPOL European Traffic Police Network Conference in the UK. The European Union looks like missing its target of halving the number of people killed on its roads each year by 2020. Just when European police forces are trying to get back on target, along comes the autonomous vehicle with all its inherent safety issues.
  • Thailand’s poor road safety again in the spotlight
    January 10, 2018
    Thailand’s poor road safety standards are once more being highighted, following a spate of road deaths during the recent holiday period. By the fourth day of Thailand’s one-week New Year’s holiday travel period, the country had already seen 239 road deaths from 2,308 crashes. There were also around 2,500 people injured in crashes in this time. The highest road death tolls during the period were seen in Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket. Meanwhile Chiang Mai experienced 86 crashes, the highest level of incident