top driving test faults

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.

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

The most common faults made during driving tests  Year 2020/21:

• Junctions – observation.
• Mirrors – change direction.
• Junctions (turning right) 
• Response to signals (traffic lights) 
• Control – steering.
• Response to signals (traffic signs)
• Response to signals (road markings) 
• Move off (safely) 
• Positioning (normal driving) 
• Move off (control) 

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

In order to avoiding common driving faults

• looking all around before emerging from a junction, and not crossing or joining a road until there is a gap large enough for you to do so safely
• using your mirrors frequently so that you always know what is behind and to each side of you, and using them in good time before you signal or change direction or speed
• maintaining a steady course and positioning the vehicle correctly in the road

Dealing with nerves

It’s normal to be nervous before your test. If you’re properly prepared and your driving instructor thinks you’re ready, you do not need to worry. The driving examiner is not trying to catch you out - they just want to make sure that you can drive safely.