From the DVSA:

DVSA reminds learner drivers of the importance of checking they’re ‘Ready to Pass’ before taking their test and delaying their test if they are not ready

  • Latest statistics show driving test pass rate is 47.9%
  • New guidance published to help parents who take their children for private practice in their own car
  • Latest provisional data shows that 405,288 drivers passed their test between May and October 2022 – an increase of 12,902 compared to the same period in 2021.
  • Thanks to DVSA’s measures to provide more tests, the provisional data shows that 836,952 driving tests were carried out between May and October 2022 – an increase of 49,647 compared to the same period in 2021.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is encouraging drivers to be ‘Ready to Pass’ as new data reveals 47.9% of drivers passed their test. With higher pass rates meaning an increase in the number of driving tests available, DVSA is continuing to support all learners to get a test appointment, and pass it when they are ready.

DVSA has also seen an increase in how often driving examiners need to physically intervene to avoid a dangerous incident to every 1 in 8 tests.

Helping cut waste

DVSA launched the “Ready to Pass?” campaign in July to reduce the number of learners who fail their driving test. The campaign is helping learners prepare for their driving test and carry out simple checks to make sure they are ready to take it.

With learners being able to rearrange their test free of charge up to 3 working days before their test, DVSA is asking learners to delay their test if they are not ready, so their appointment can be used by someone else who is ready. This will help make more tests available and prevent people having to pay to re-test.

Following the last lockdown in 2021 the driving test service was not at full capacity and needed re-establishing. Since then DVSA has taken unprecedented action to boost test availability, including out of hours testing and examiner recruitment campaigns. As a result of DVSA measures to provide more tests, the provisional data shows that 836,952 driving tests were carried out between May and October 2022 – an increase of 49,647 compared to the same period in 2021.

 The Chief

The DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder said:

“We took swift action to tackle the impact of the pandemic and ensure as many people as possible could take their driving test. I’m glad to see that along with the hard work of driving instructors and our examiners it is working, and more test appointments are available for learner drivers.

“However, with more than half of learners still failing, I’d urge them to use our ‘Ready to Pass?’ checklist to make sure they’re ready.

“Where possible parents should make use of our new guidance and take learners out for private practice so they gain as much on road experience as possible helping them to pass their test and be a safer driver.

DVSA data shows learner drivers are 1.5 times more likely to pass their test if they have a combination of professional lessons with private practice.

The parents

With 71% of parents of learner drivers saying more information is needed on the knowledge, skills, and practice needed to be a good driver, DVSA has published a new supervising learner drivers guide. This will help parents who decide to take their son or daughter in their own car out for private practice.

This includes guidance on:

  • the eligibility criteria of supervising a learner
  • checking if their car is suitable
  • when to start private practice
  • how to plan practice sessions
  • rules to follow during private practice

If more parents use the guidance to help support their son or daughter with private practice it will also help to improve pass rates and help to reduce the waiting times for tests.

Are they ready?

The ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign provides learners with advice on:

  • finding an approved driving instructor
  • how to monitor and check progress of your driving lessons and private practice
  • when to take a mock test
  • how to manage your test day nerves – 1 in 10 learners who fail their driving test say the main reason they failed was because they were too nervous.

It also includes a checklist that has all the things that learners should do before taking their driving test. This will help to increase the driving test pass rate and reduce driving test waiting times.