The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has revealed the top 10 reasons people failed the new driving test in its first year.

DVSA is encouraging learner drivers to spend more time practising their driving skills and techniques in these areas, using a variety of different roads, such as country roads and dual carriageways.

DVSA also wants learners to spend more time practising driving in different road conditions, such as driving in rain and driving in the dark.

This will better prepare them for a lifetime of safe driving.

Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test

The most common faults made during driving tests between 4 December 2017 and 3 December 2018 were:

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

The driving test report tells you what each area means, and what you need to do to pass.

Insufficient observation at junctions and not using mirrors effectively when changing direction accounted for 368,047 test failures.

Driving test faults reflect the factors that cause accidents