DVSA reveal the top 10 most common driving test mistakes
The DVSA has revealed that learner drivers' most common fault during their test is failing to make the correct observations when at a junction.
They analysed the total faults recorded in the 1,689,000 practical tests undertaken between March 2022 and 2023.
The latest data set from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), showed that learners are still failing to take in the situation around them when moving onto a new road safely.
During a practical examination, a driver is allowed to make up to 15 faults, however, an assessor will determine the contextual situation of each one.
By using an unofficial driving test booking site, you run the risk of your personal data being used without your consent and being charged an admin fee. It's always best to book your test on the official booking site: https://t.co/luZb3ECrDv pic.twitter.com/usnowqsU6m
— Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (@DVSAgovuk) June 29, 2023
The observational fault, which has consistently held the top spot since records began 16 years ago, is noted down in instances such as a driver misjudging the speed of an oncoming car, entering a roundabout when a vehicle is approaching from the right, or not even looking when they approach a junction.
Dan Jones, Operations Manager at DrivingExperience.com said: 'It seems that safely navigating junctions is still causing learner drivers the biggest headache during their test.
'Often, learners get anxious about reversing around a corner or even parallel parking in the lead-up to their exam. Then, in the stressful environment of a driving test, they forget about the observational basics they would have been taught since the beginning of their lessons.'
The data also revealed that even the basic skill of moving off safely is proving a tricky task for learners to master, with the fault creeping into the top three for the first time.
Completing the top three was drivers failing to check their mirrors safely when changing direction.
Other common faults on the list included failing to take up the correct position when turning right at a junction, not having control of the steering wheel, and failing to respond correctly to traffic lights or signs.
Protecting our roads and the environment. 🚗🌳 DVSA enforcement officers work diligently with the @EnvAgency on keeping Britain's roads safer for everyone.👇 https://t.co/ejM4D1RkVe
— Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (@DVSAgovuk) August 8, 2023
Dan concluded with advice for drivers who are about to take their practical test: 'Last year the DVSA saw a 10 per cent rise in people taking their practical test when compared to the previous year; however the pass rate was down by half a per cent.
'Although any examination can be stressful, it is worth noting that examiners aren't out there to catch you out. Make sure they can see you making deliberate observations, or even think out loud during the test as this can be a checklist for yourself as well.'
To find out more about how DrivingExperience can help boost your confidence on the roads, visit its Driving Lessons page to browse and book from available Driving Lesson experiences through purchase of its open Gift Vouchers.
Recommended reading:
DVSA makes 'long-awaited' driving licence change which could help thousands
Can an alcoholic drink improve your health? Experts believe they've found one
6.3 million homes and properties in UK currently 'at serious risk' of flooding
Junctions (observations)
Mirrors (change direction)
Move off (safely)
Junctions (turning right)
Control (steering)
Response to signals (traffic lights)
Response to signals (traffic signs)
Positioning (normal driving)
Response to signals (road markings)
Reverse park (control)
If a fault is deemed to be potentially dangerous or dangerous, then it will result in the learner failing the test.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Associated Press
Driver Technologies Joins Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance as a New Startup Member
Automotive software and cloud technology provider allows drivers to record with their vehicle and access their data from any device NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Driver Technologies (Driver), an AI-based mobility tech company that delivers the products and services needed to keep everyone protected on the road via its app, Driver®, available through iOS, Android, and embedded into vehicles, today announced its new membership as part of Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance (COVESA) a global, member-driven alliance focused on the development of open standards and technologies that accelerate innovation for connected vehicle systems. Through this membership, Driver joins COVESA's global community developing common approaches and technologies that accelerate innovation for connected vehicle systems. 'We're pleased to announce our membership in the Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance, as the organization is an open, collaborative, and impactful technology alliance, accelerating the full potential of connected vehicles,' said Marcus Newbury, COO and co-founder of Driver Technologies. 'COVESA is uniquely positioned to navigate the digital transformation shaped by customer expectations, and we look forward to engaging with a collaborative and experienced community of executives and experts in the connected vehicle and mobility industries to address the opportunities and challenges presented by the automotive industry.' The Driver app automatically captures a driver's trip complete with the vehicle's information (speed, mileage, engine state, tire state, power, etc.) and uploads it to Driver's cloud storage platform, Driver Cloud, for safekeeping and easy access. The Driver app also provides access to telematics, driver scoring, driver coaching and data sharing control capabilities to allow drivers to share this information with their insurance company during the claims process, or to ensure greater accuracy during the underwriting process. Additionally, Drivers have the ability to pair their trip vehicle data with video recordings by using the Driver app on a mobile device, which turns a smartphone into a dash cam. 'Driver Technologies joins COVESA as a new member, and we look forward to integrating their team's passion for making connected car technology and vehicle data more accessible to enhance driver safety,' said Steve Crumb, Executive Director of COVESA. 'COVESA continues to be a growing, vibrant ecosystem that brings buyers and sellers together to accomplish business goals, supporting the adoption of alliance member-driven results.' To become a member of COVESA alongside Driver Technologies and join an alliance open to all companies interested in developing common approaches and technologies that accelerate innovation for connected vehicle systems, visit ### About Driver Technologies, Inc. Driver Technologies is an AI-based mobility tech company that delivers the products and services needed to keep everyone protected on the road via its connected driving app, Driver®, available through iOS, Android, and embedded into vehicles. Driver allows users to record their trip while receiving coaching notifications and offers cloud-based video storage and scoring capabilities. Users have full control over their data stored on the Driver Cloud and can choose what to share with interested parties such as employers, insurers and family members. For more information, please visit About Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance (COVESA) The Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance (COVESA) is an open and member-driven global technology alliance accelerating the full potential of connected vehicles and the mobility ecosystem. As the only alliance focused solely on developing common approaches and technologies for connected vehicles, COVESA serves as a collaborative platform that brings together automotive software stakeholders with world-class developers to address opportunities and challenges in the automotive industry and navigate the digital transformation shaped by customer expectations. To learn more about COVESA or to join our community, visit Driver Technologies Contact Casey Mannix Caliber Corporate Advisers [email protected] Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance (COVESA) Contact [email protected] SOURCE: Driver Technologies, Inc. press release
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Man dead after driving Kia into Ohio construction zone
A man is dead after crashing his vehicle into an Ohio construction zone early Sunday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Deputies responded at around 5 a.m. to a crash in Franklin County in the 1600 block of North Hague Avenue, according to our news partner, WBNS in Columbus. TRENDING STORIES: 81-year-old man drowns in home pool 3 accused of using $600K in stolen SNAP benefits to buy bulk amounts of candy, energy drinks in Ohio Local woman to attempt English Channel swim this week A Silver Kia went through a road closed barrier, struck a pile of gravel, went airborne, hit an excavator, and came to rest on an excavator bucket and sewer hole support wall, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said. Upon arrival, medics saw a car sitting over a large hole that had been dug to install a sewer, WBNS said. Medics removed the driver from the Kia. They pronounced the driver dead at the scene. No one else was in the occupant at the time of the crash, WBNS reported. The crash remains under investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Porsche halts sale of EV over battery fire fears
Porsche has ordered dealers to stop selling one of its electric models amid fears that the car will catch fire. The first-generation Taycan – a model blighted by a string of safety malfunctions since its launch six years ago – has been taken off the market. It is understood Porsche fears 'a batch' of the high-end sports cars have a fault within their battery packs. Electric car fires in the UK have increased by 77 per cent between 2022 and 2024, figures from QBE Insurance suggest, with fire brigades called out to 232 incidents last year. The Taycan, which was Porsche's first mass-produced electric vehicle (EV), has been subject to a dozen safety recalls in the past four years, including brake, suspension and welding defects. Orders to halt sales last week are understood to relate to a previous recall issued in November by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The gremlin involves a potential short circuit within the Taycan's battery, which 'could lead to thermal events and later to a fire in the vehicle'. Porsche wrote to its official used car dealers ordering them to immediately take a number of the affected Taycan models off sale, according to Car Dealer Magazine. A Porsche spokesman said: 'Enhanced battery monitoring software is anticipated to become available for first generation Taycan models towards the end of June. With its imminent arrival, we've advised our retail partners not to sell a small, specific batch of first generation Taycan models until the software update is live.' In September 2023, a £200,000 Taycan was reported to have burst into flames in the middle of a busy street in the city of Chongqing, south-western China. Global sales of the troublesome model plummeted 49 per cent last year – a slump the German manufacturer blamed on the Taycan's mid-cycle facelift and a slower-than-planned electric uptake. UK owners impacted by the latest fire safety issue have been sent letters detailing the problem. A letter seen by The Telegraph states: 'Cases have come to light in which a short circuit within the high-voltage battery has occurred ... subsequently causing the vehicle to catch fire.' Until a solution is made available, owners must take the cars to a local Porsche garage every 60 days for a three-hour inspection. They have been told they can continue to use their Taycans before they are repaired, but are 'urgently' asked to only charge the battery to a maximum of 80 per cent. They are also advised not to charge under a car cover or next to a building. Such limitations significantly hinder owners from charging the vehicles at home. The letter, signed by Porsche's product and technical compliance manager, states that the manufacturer 'very much regrets the circumstances'. Taycan models are among a string of high-end EVs that struggle to retain their value after rolling off the forecourt. Analysis by car website Parkers shows that a new Taycan S cost £186,300 in January last year, but some used models now can be bought for just £98,360. Across the board, separate research shows a typical EV now retains only 49 per cent of its value after 24 months, compared with 70 per cent for diesel and petrol cars, according to Cox Automotive. Porsche had previously said that EVs would account for 80 per cent of its new vehicle sales by the end of the decade, but watered down that target last summer. Lutz Meschke, the manufacturer's finance chief, said in November that the company would stick with petrol engines for 'much longer' than previously planned. The Telegraph approached Porsche for further comment. A DVSA spokesman said: 'Road safety is our absolute priority, and getting recalled vehicles fixed promptly has a huge benefit for all road users. 'There is an active safety recall on Porsche Taycans produced between 2019 and 2024 for which the manufacturer is in the final stages of developing a remedy. This involves concerns related to the vehicle's electrical propulsion system.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
