Top 10 Driving Test Fails

This page details the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) top 10 practical driving test failures.

The statistics below are a combination of all UK practical driving test centres and typically is comprised of data obtained from year beginning April through to March the following year.

Data is taken from the most recent year 2017, through to 2006. Other information provided is the overall pass rate of all test centres based on each year and the the total amount of tests passed with zero faults occurring.

As can be seen from the statistics, junctions (observation) represents the number 1 test failure throughout the years, plus very similar failures are repeated year on year.

Hopefully if you’re taking your driving test soon, you’ll be one of the statistics for a the driving test pass rates.

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2016 / 2017

• Pass rate 47.1%
• Tests passed with 0 faults 17,950

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Mirrors (change direction)
3. Control (steering)
4. Junctions (turning right)
5. Move off (safely)
6. Positioning (normal driving)
7. Move off (control)
8. Response to signals (traffic lights)
9. Reverse park (control)
10. Response to signals (Traffic Signs)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2015 / 2016

• Pass rate: 47%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 14,634

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
3. Control (steering)
4. Junctions (turning right)
5. Positioning (normal driving)
6. Move off (safely)
7. Move off (control)
8. Response to signals (traffic lights)
9. Reverse park (control)
10. Response to signals (road markings)

Top 10 Test Failures Year 2014 / 2015

• Pass rate: 46.9%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 13,852

Top ten reasons for failing

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
3. Control (steering)
4. Junctions (turning right)
5. Response to signals (traffic lights)
6. Move off (control)
7. Positioning (normal driving)
8. Move off (safety)
9. Reverse park (control)
10. Response to signals (road markings)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2013 / 2014

• Pass rate: 47.1%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 11,984

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
3. Control (steering)
4. Junctions (turning right)
5. Response to signals (traffic lights)
6. Move off (safety)
7. Move off (control)
8. Positioning (normal driving)
9. Reverse park (control)
10. Response to signals (road markings)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2012 / 2013

• Pass rate: 47.1%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 10,380

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
3. Junctions (turning right)
4. Control (steering)
5. Response to signals (traffic lights)
6. Move off (safety)
7. Positioning (normal driving)
8. Move off (control)
9. Reverse park (control)
10. Response to signals (road markings)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2011 / 2012

• Pass rate: 46.9%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 10,328

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
3. Junctions (turning right)
4. Control (steering)
5. Move off (safety)
6. Response to signals (traffic lights)
7. Positioning (normal driving)
8. Move off (control)
9. Reverse park (control)
10. Response to signals (road markings)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2010 / 2011

• Pass rate: 46.3%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 8,189

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
3. Junctions (turning right)
4. Move off (safety)
5. Control (steering)
6. Reverse park (control)
7. Reverse /left reverse (control)
8. Positioning (normal driving)
9. Response to signals (traffic lights)
10. Move off (control)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2009 / 2010

• Pass rate: 45.9%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 6,032

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
3. Reverse /left reverse (control)
4. Reverse park (control)
5. Move off (safety)
6. Control (steering)
7. Junctions (turning right)
8. Positioning (normal driving)
9. Move off (control)
10. Response to signals (traffic lights)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2008 / 2009

• Pass rate: 45.3%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 5,294

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
3. Reverse /left reverse (control)
4. Reverse park (control)
5. Move off (safety)
6. Control (steering)
7. Junctions (turning right)
8. Positioning (normal driving)
9. Move off (control)
10. Response to signals (traffic lights)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2007 / 2008

• Pass rate: 44.2%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 4,107

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Reverse /left reverse (control)
3. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
4. Reverse park (control)
5. Control (steering)
6. Move off (safety)
7. Junctions (turning right)
8. Positioning (normal driving)
9. Move off (control)
10. Progress (appropriate speed)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2006 / 2007

• Pass rate: 43.3%
• Tests passed with 0 faults: 3,329

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Reverse /left reverse (control)
3. Reverse park (control)
4. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
5. Move off (safety)
6. Control (steering)
7. Junctions (turning right)
8. Positioning (normal driving)
9. Move off (control)
10. Progress (appropriate speed)