Kendal (Oxenholme Road) | Driving Test Centre Statistics

Serious and Dangerous Faults

A serious or dangerous fault will result in a fail. A figure of 5% means that 5% of tests had either a S/D fault recorded and therefore, 5% of people failed wholly or partially for this fault category.

Fault	This centre	UK	Diff	Diff %	Typical situations causing this fault	Why this might be more common here
Response to traffic lights	5.75%	4.41%	+1.34%	130%	Driving through a red light. Driving through an amber light when you could have stopped safely. Hesitating unnecessarily at a green light, impeding the flow of traffic. Incorrectly stopping at a red light that is meant for other drivers. Ignoring or misinterpreting a green arrow filter light. Not waiting in the middle of a box junction when turning right.	High traffic volume in the area can pressure learners to avoid stopping for amber lights. Confusingly located traffic lights. Traffic lights placed on fast sections of road where learners feel pressured to make good progress. Traffic lights placed within roundabouts, where learners are too focused on lane position and observations.
Mirrors - signalling	0.68%	0.45%	+0.23%	150%	Checking mirrors after or at the same time as signalling.	Test routes that involve frequent or rushed lane changes.
Signals - timed	0.30%	0.23%	+0.07%	132%	Signalling too late for the signal to be effective.	Unclear road markings and signs might lead to last minute rushed lane changes. Hidden junctions on main roads.
Signals - necessary	0.61%	0.55%	+0.06%	111%	Not signalling when pulling away from the kerb. Not signalling when pulling up at the side of the road. Not signalling when turning left or right at a junction. Not signalling when changing lanes or overtaking. Not signalling when joining or exiting a dual carriageway.	Complex road layouts with frequent lane changes may overwhelm some learners. Unclear road markings and signs might lead to last minute rushed lane changes.
Junctions - approach speed	0.83%	0.83%	-0.00%	100%	Approaching a junction too quickly, making it difficult to make observations and stop safely if necessary. Braking harshly when needing to stop at give way lines.	Roundabouts and other junctions that 'appear out of nowhere' on fast roads, possibly due to inadequate signage. Sharp bends or steep inclines on approach to roundabouts. Sharp exits off fast roads (e.g. t-junctions off dual carriageways).
Judgement - overtaking	0.61%	0.61%	-0.01%	98%	Being too close to a cyclist when overtaking. Overtaking when there is insufficient space, leading to a near miss with an oncoming vehicle. Overtaking on a blind bend or over a hill, where visibility is restricted. Overtaking in situations where it is expressly prohibited, such as on solid white lines. Cutting in after overtaking, causing danger.	Rural roads with a mix of slow-moving vehicles and faster traffic. Single-carriageway roads with limited overtaking opportunities. High numbers of cyclists.
Precautions	0.00%	0.01%	-0.01%	0%	Starting the car with the gear not in neutral. Adjusting seat position or mirrors whilst driving. Doors not shut whilst moving.	N/A
Control - parking brake	0.15%	0.17%	-0.02%	90%	Moving off with the handbrake engaged. Using the handbrake when driving forward or turning.	N/A
Control - clutch	0.00%	0.02%	-0.02%	0%	Keeping the clutch pedal held down (coasting) reducing your control of the car.	N/A
Control - accelerator	0.00%	0.02%	-0.02%	0%	Jerky use of the accelerator.	N/A
Response to traffic controllers	0.00%	0.03%	-0.03%	0%	Failing to follow the instructions of a traffic controller (e.g. lollipop men and women).	Traffic controllers are frequently employed in some areas and very rare in other areas.
Eyesight	0.00%	0.03%	-0.03%	0%	Inability to read a license plate from 20 metres away.	N/A
Ancillary controls	0.00%	0.06%	-0.06%	0%	Losing control of the car when using one of the controls. Not turning on the windscreen wipers when it starts to rain. Not using the demisters to clear the front windscreen when needed.	N/A
Vehicle checks	0.38%	0.50%	-0.12%	75%	Getting either the show me or tell me question wrong (one minor fault). Losing control of the car when answering the show me question.	N/A
Control - Footbrake	0.08%	0.22%	-0.14%	35%	Pressing the footbrake too hard when unnecessary. Pressing the footbrake too softly to slow down for a hazard.	N/A
Following distance	0.61%	0.77%	-0.17%	78%	Driving too close to the vehicle in front, failing to maintain a safe stopping distance. Not increasing the following distance in rain, fog or ice. Failing to adjust the following distance when driving behind larger vehicles. Not anticipating the braking actions of the vehicle in front, leading to a sudden need to brake harshly.	Stop-start heavy traffic on busy roads, especially those with traffic lights, can cause learners to feel pressured to misjudge safe following distances. Fast moving traffic on dual carriageways where other vehicles are likely to slow down rapidly due to lane layouts and sliproads.
Forward bay park - control	0.45%	0.64%	-0.19%	70%	Failing to accurately park within the marked lines of the bay (it is okay to be crooked). Inability to control the vehicle whilst reversing out of the bay. Touching or driving over curbs whilst performing the maneuvre. Needing to reposition the car and reattempt the maneuvre multiple times.	The most frequently used car parks are cramped or have an uneven surface.
Junctions - turning left	0.23%	0.44%	-0.21%	52%	Incorrect positioning when turning left at junctions. Not positioning to the left of a junction when waiting to turn left. Turning left at a roundabout using the incorrect lane.	Roundabouts with many exits making lane choice less obvious.
Position - normal stops	0.61%	0.84%	-0.23%	72%	Stopping in a location that obstructs a driveway, a junction, or a bus stop. Parking with one or more wheels on the pavement. Parking too far from the kerb.	Inner city test areas with limited roadside parking. Areas where residents habitually park on the pavement can trick learners into thinking it is acceptable.
Junctions - cutting corners	0.15%	0.40%	-0.25%	38%	Poor steering or positioning when making a turn, causing you to briefly drive on the wrong side of the road. Where parked cars make it impossible to avoid cutting corners, doing so at speed without enhanced observation.	Test routes with tight junctions and cars parked near junctions.
Forward bay park - observation	0.30%	0.55%	-0.25%	55%	Not completing 360° observations whilst reversing out of the bay. Staring at mirrors and not periodically observing all around. Being unaware of pedestrians and other car park users.	The most frequently used car parks are cramped or have an uneven surface, thus requiring higher concentration for accuracy and risking sloppy observation.
Judgement - crossing	1.59%	1.88%	-0.29%	85%	Turning right across the path of an oncoming vehicle, failing to anticipate its speed.	Certain right turns on fast roads with poor visibility, requiring expert judgement.
Control - gears	0.76%	1.04%	-0.29%	72%	Selecting a low gear at high speed, causing a sudden loss of speed and danger for vehicles behind. Selecting a high gear at low speed, and possibly stalling.	Test routes with numerous fast stretches of road, necessitating higher gears and more shifting.
Response to road users	0.15%	0.51%	-0.36%	30%	Failing to respond to another road user clearly giving way. Waiting behind parked or broken down vehicles without attempting to overtake. Being oblivious or inconsiderate to other drivers when merging in turn.	Busy or chaotic high streets and city centres.
Reverse bay park - observation	0.45%	0.84%	-0.38%	54%	Not completing 360° observations whilst reversing. Staring at mirrors and not periodically observing all around. Being unaware of pedestrians and other car park users.	The most frequently used car parks are cramped or have an uneven surface, thus requiring higher concentration for accuracy and risking sloppy observation.
Mirrors - change speed	1.44%	1.85%	-0.41%	78%	Failing to check mirrors when slowing down. Failing to check mirrors when speeding up, creating danger for anyone overtaking. Accidentally slowing due to improper gear selection.	Roads with harsh speed limit changes. Fast hilly roads where learners may forget to downshift as needed, causing accidental slow-downs.
Emergency stop	0.00%	0.41%	-0.41%	0%	Reacting too slowly after the examiner shouts 'Stop!'. Stopping too slowly due to improper use of footbrake and clutch. NOTE: 360° observations are required when moving off, but these are marked under 'Move off - safely'.	N/A
Pedestrian crossing	0.98%	1.40%	-0.42%	70%	Failing to stop at a zebra crossing when pedestrians are waiting. Stopping on the crossing itself, blocking its use by pedestrians. Approaching a crossing too quickly. Moving off before a pedestrian has completely cleared the crossing.	Lots of zebra crossings and high foot traffic. Crossings awkwardly placed immediately after roundabouts. Crossings overly obscured by road furniture, requiring advanced observation skills.
Reverse bay park - control	0.98%	1.41%	-0.43%	70%	Failing to accurately park within the marked lines of the bay (it is okay to be crooked). Inability to control the vehicle whilst reversing. Touching or driving over curbs whilst performing the maneuvre. Needing to reposition the car and reattempt the maneuvre multiple times.	The most frequently used car parks are cramped or have an uneven surface. Often this maneuvre will be done at the test centre. DTC car parks vary in quality.
Reverse right - control	0.08%	0.57%	-0.50%	13%	When asked to pull over to the right of the road and reverse two car lengths, vehicle control was poor. Touching or driving onto the pavement when reversing. Being too far from the pavement before and/or after the maneuvre.	N/A
Move off - control	2.57%	3.10%	-0.52%	83%	Stalling from a parked position or in traffic. Rolling back a considerable amount when moving off. Attempting to move off when a gear is not selected.	Hilly areas, especially around junctions. Hilly roads with slow stop-start traffic, requiring consecutive hill starts.
Reverse right - observation	0.68%	1.24%	-0.56%	55%	When asked to pull over to the right of the road and reverse two car lengths, observations were poor. Failing to stop for passing cars and nearby pedestrians. Relying on just the mirrors to check surroundings; no blind spot checks. Not judging oncoming traffic safely when moving across to the right.	N/A
Parallel park - observation	0.83%	1.55%	-0.71%	54%	Not completing 360° observations whilst reversing. Staring at mirrors and not periodically observing all around. Being unaware of pedestrians and other road users. Getting too close to parked cars and other obstacles when maneuvring.	Test routes where the parallel park is performed on busier roads with more hazards.
Positioning - lane discipline	0.30%	1.09%	-0.78%	28%	Straddling lanes, preventing other road users from overtaking. Drifting over lane markings due to lack of control or concentration.	Roads with complex lane configurations. Dual carriageways with bends, requiring extra skill to maintain a central position.
Response to traffic signs	3.41%	4.21%	-0.80%	81%	Not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Attempting to drive through a no-entry sign. Attempting to drive through any other sign that restricts access (e.g. buses only). Ignoring a give way sign and assuming priority. Ignoring a keep left sign.	Stop signs are rare in the UK, but may show up in this test centre area. Confusing one-way systems. Complex road signs restricting access (e.g. bus-only at certain times).
Positioning - normal driving	3.03%	3.84%	-0.81%	79%	Not driving in the centre of the lane. Driving for too long in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason. 'Straight-lining' a roundabout. Not driving in the bus lane when it is allowed at that time.	Many timed bus lanes around test centre. Multi-lane roundabouts with worn lane markings.
Parallel park - control	1.06%	1.94%	-0.88%	55%	Inability to control the vehicle whilst reversing. Touching the curb or driving over the pavement. Needing to reposition the car and reattempt the maneuvre multiple times. Finishing too far from the curb or the car in front.	Test routes where the parallel park is performed on roads with a steep road camber, an uneven road surface or less space.
Use of speed (too fast)	2.57%	3.60%	-1.03%	71%	Driving above the posted speed limit. Failing to reduce speed when approaching a hazard, such as a pedestrian crossing or a bend in the road. Driving too fast on a road with potholes or poor surface condition (regardless of the posted speed limit). Driving too fast on a national speed limit road (60 mph is often too dangerous). Driving at a speed that is unsafe for the weather - rain, fog, or ice.	Recently changed speed limits that conflict with old limits displayed on satnav. Sudden speed limit changes, especially on exit sliproads. Inadequate signage, road markings and traffic calming measures. Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads. 20 mph main roads where locals ignore the limit and overtake learners, causing pressure to keep pace. Clearly signed 30/40/50/NSL roads that pressure learners to make progress despite potholes, bends, etc.
Progress - undue hesitation	1.29%	2.40%	-1.11%	54%	Not emerging from a junction when it is safe to do so. Waiting unnecessarily for another road user to pass who has clearly given way to you. Failing to maintain momentum when joining a clear roundabout. Ignoring shields and exit signals on mini-roundabouts and therefore missing many opportunities to proceed.	Areas and times with fast, flowing traffic and non-obvious gaps. Busy mini-roundabouts. Test routes with stops along busy main roads.
Judgement - meeting	1.67%	2.80%	-1.13%	60%	Failing to slow down or adjust your position when approaching an oncoming vehicle on a narrow road. Misjudging the speed of an oncoming vehicle and failing to allow sufficient space for it to pass safely. Continuing towards other vehicles when they have priority.	Narrow residential roads, particularly those lined with parked cars. Residential roads with hills and bends, requiring faster reaction time.
Signals - correctly	0.08%	1.24%	-1.17%	6%	Signalling left or right, but not turning. Signalling right at a roundabout when you want to go ahead. Signalling left at a roundabout when you are not intending to take the first exit. Failing to cancel a signal after turning. Flashing other road users to give way, contrary to the Highway Code.	Main roads with many junctions and driveways with little space between them. Roundabouts with more than four exits and/or confusing signs. Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Awareness / planning	0.38%	1.79%	-1.41%	21%	Not anticipating the actions of other road users and reacting late to hazards or changes in traffic flow. Waiting behind parked or broken down vehicles without attempting to overtake. Being oblivious or inconsiderate to other drivers when merging in turn. Not anticipating that pedestrians are about to cross, or walk upon the road.	Busy or chaotic high streets and city centres. High numbers of cyclists and/or confusing cycle infrastructure. Semi- or fully-pedestrianised roads with pedestrians walking freely around.
Progress - speed (too slow)	1.97%	3.39%	-1.42%	58%	Driving significantly below the speed limit on a clear road without a valid reason (especially if it impacts drivers behind or causes them to overtake). Being hesitant to build speed on a sliproad so as to merge safely. Slowing down excessively for minor hazards, such as slight bends. Losing speed due to improper gear selection on a hill.	Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads - learners may 'hedge' their bets by driving at 20 until they are sure the limit is 30. Rural national speed limit roads. Fast roads with hills and bends, requiring frequent gear changes to maintain progress. Short sliproads necessitating confident acceleration.
Response to road markings	2.27%	3.94%	-1.67%	58%	Driving in an incorrect lane that was clearly marked. Ignoring lane arrows at junctions (e.g. left turn only). Ignoring a give way line and assuming priority. Stopping within a cycle box, not respecting advanced stop lines.	Road markings worn away due to infrequent maintenance and/or heavy traffic. Complex or confusing lane restrictions. Road markings can be easily missed in slow moving traffic, especially when other road users may not follow them. Give way lines draw in unusual places.
Clearance / obstructions	0.91%	2.67%	-1.76%	34%	Driving too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space. Driving too close to parked vehicles or other fixed structures.	Narrow roads with limited space for cars to give way to each other. Awkwardly placed width restrictors. High levels of traffic and/or bus routes on narrow roads.
Control - steering	2.35%	4.38%	-2.04%	54%	Steering too much, too little, too early or too late. Mounting the curb when steering out of a junction. Briefly driving on the wrong side of the road when turning through a junction.	Tight junctions and narrow roads. Sharp left or right turns on test routes.
Move off - safely	2.65%	4.97%	-2.32%	53%	When parked on the road, moving off and causing oncoming traffic to brake or swerve. Not checking mirrors and blindspots when moving off from a parked position. Not completing all 360° observations when continuing after an emergency stop.	Test routes involve stopping on busier roads. Test routes involve stopping on bendy residential roads with restricted visibility.
Junctions - turning right	1.82%	4.60%	-2.79%	39%	Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions. Not positioning to the right of the road when turning right. Turning right at a roundabout using the incorrect lane. Not using the waiting area in the middle of the road when waiting to turn right, therefore blocking traffic behind.	Confusing road layouts, worn road markings and circuitous test routes involving waiting area for right turns. Roundabouts with many exits making lane choice less obvious. Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Junctions - observation	5.68%	10.88%	-5.20%	52%	Emerging at a T-junction or roundabout and causing another vehicle to slow down. Emerging from a junction without adequate observations (even if clear). Sailing through a crossroads without stopping and looking. Joining a dual carriageway via a sliproad without sufficient mirror and blind spot checks. Turning right in front of oncoming traffic, causing them to slow down.	Junctions onto busy roads with fast flowing traffic, small gaps and the requirement to build speed quickly to avoid slowing others behind. Short, curvy or otherwise awkward sliproads onto dual carriageways. Busy high streets and main roads with poor visibility and bikes overtaking.
Mirrors - change direction	3.26%	8.51%	-5.26%	38%	Failing to check mirrors when exiting a roundabout. Failing to check mirrors when changing lanes.	Complex multi-lane roundabouts and one-way systems.

Driver Faults

Driver faults are minor mistakes. If a candidate accumulates too many in a single category, they will be zeroed and replaced with a single serious fault. Accumulating 16 driver faults in total can also result in a fail. As you can get multiple driver faults in the same category, displayed below are absolute figures, not percentages. If every candidate got two driver faults for steering, this will show as 2.0.

Sum these, and you will see, an average test has 4.00 driver faults, compared to 5.28 nationally. Meanwhile, 7.95% of drivers passed with zero faults, compared to 2.70% nationally.

Fault	This centre	UK	Diff	Diff %	Typical situations causing this fault	Why this might be more common here
Signals - correctly	0.203	0.157	+0.046	129%	Signalling left or right, but not turning. Signalling right at a roundabout when you want to go ahead. Signalling left at a roundabout when you are not intending to take the first exit. Failing to cancel a signal after turning. Flashing other road users to give way, contrary to the Highway Code.	Main roads with many junctions and driveways with little space between them. Roundabouts with more than four exits and/or confusing signs. Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Signals - timed	0.127	0.108	+0.019	118%	Signalling too late for the signal to be effective.	Unclear road markings and signs might lead to last minute rushed lane changes. Hidden junctions on main roads.
Junctions - turning left	0.031	0.021	+0.010	147%	Incorrect positioning when turning left at junctions. Not positioning to the left of a junction when waiting to turn left. Turning left at a roundabout using the incorrect lane.	Roundabouts with many exits making lane choice less obvious.
Junctions - approach speed	0.120	0.112	+0.008	107%	Approaching a junction too quickly, making it difficult to make observations and stop safely if necessary. Braking harshly when needing to stop at give way lines.	Roundabouts and other junctions that 'appear out of nowhere' on fast roads, possibly due to inadequate signage. Sharp bends or steep inclines on approach to roundabouts. Sharp exits off fast roads (e.g. t-junctions off dual carriageways).
Judgement - overtaking	0.016	0.012	+0.004	137%	Being too close to a cyclist when overtaking. Overtaking when there is insufficient space, leading to a near miss with an oncoming vehicle. Overtaking on a blind bend or over a hill, where visibility is restricted. Overtaking in situations where it is expressly prohibited, such as on solid white lines. Cutting in after overtaking, causing danger.	Rural roads with a mix of slow-moving vehicles and faster traffic. Single-carriageway roads with limited overtaking opportunities. High numbers of cyclists.
Precautions	0.008	0.003	+0.004	241%	Starting the car with the gear not in neutral. Adjusting seat position or mirrors whilst driving. Doors not shut whilst moving.	N/A
Response to traffic lights	0.056	0.053	+0.003	107%	Driving through a red light. Driving through an amber light when you could have stopped safely. Hesitating unnecessarily at a green light, impeding the flow of traffic. Incorrectly stopping at a red light that is meant for other drivers. Ignoring or misinterpreting a green arrow filter light. Not waiting in the middle of a box junction when turning right.	High traffic volume in the area can pressure learners to avoid stopping for amber lights. Confusingly located traffic lights. Traffic lights placed on fast sections of road where learners feel pressured to make good progress. Traffic lights placed within roundabouts, where learners are too focused on lane position and observations.
Mirrors - signalling	0.226	0.226	+0.001	100%	Checking mirrors after or at the same time as signalling.	Test routes that involve frequent or rushed lane changes.
Move off - control	0.294	0.294	+0.001	100%	Stalling from a parked position or in traffic. Rolling back a considerable amount when moving off. Attempting to move off when a gear is not selected.	Hilly areas, especially around junctions. Hilly roads with slow stop-start traffic, requiring consecutive hill starts.
Control - Footbrake	0.060	0.059	+0.001	102%	Pressing the footbrake too hard when unnecessary. Pressing the footbrake too softly to slow down for a hazard.	N/A
Reverse bay park - control	0.101	0.099	+0.001	101%	Failing to accurately park within the marked lines of the bay (it is okay to be crooked). Inability to control the vehicle whilst reversing. Touching or driving over curbs whilst performing the maneuvre. Needing to reposition the car and reattempt the maneuvre multiple times.	The most frequently used car parks are cramped or have an uneven surface. Often this maneuvre will be done at the test centre. DTC car parks vary in quality.
Response to traffic controllers	0.001	0.001	-0.000	86%	Failing to follow the instructions of a traffic controller (e.g. lollipop men and women).	Traffic controllers are frequently employed in some areas and very rare in other areas.
Control - accelerator	0.003	0.004	-0.001	70%	Jerky use of the accelerator.	N/A
Judgement - crossing	0.016	0.018	-0.002	88%	Turning right across the path of an oncoming vehicle, failing to anticipate its speed.	Certain right turns on fast roads with poor visibility, requiring expert judgement.
Control - parking brake	0.021	0.024	-0.002	90%	Moving off with the handbrake engaged. Using the handbrake when driving forward or turning.	N/A
Pedestrian crossing	0.017	0.020	-0.003	85%	Failing to stop at a zebra crossing when pedestrians are waiting. Stopping on the crossing itself, blocking its use by pedestrians. Approaching a crossing too quickly. Moving off before a pedestrian has completely cleared the crossing.	Lots of zebra crossings and high foot traffic. Crossings awkwardly placed immediately after roundabouts. Crossings overly obscured by road furniture, requiring advanced observation skills.
Ancillary controls	0.004	0.008	-0.005	45%	Losing control of the car when using one of the controls. Not turning on the windscreen wipers when it starts to rain. Not using the demisters to clear the front windscreen when needed.	N/A
Response to traffic signs	0.036	0.043	-0.007	83%	Not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Attempting to drive through a no-entry sign. Attempting to drive through any other sign that restricts access (e.g. buses only). Ignoring a give way sign and assuming priority. Ignoring a keep left sign.	Stop signs are rare in the UK, but may show up in this test centre area. Confusing one-way systems. Complex road signs restricting access (e.g. bus-only at certain times).
Control - gears	0.132	0.140	-0.008	95%	Selecting a low gear at high speed, causing a sudden loss of speed and danger for vehicles behind. Selecting a high gear at low speed, and possibly stalling.	Test routes with numerous fast stretches of road, necessitating higher gears and more shifting.
Reverse bay park - observation	0.025	0.036	-0.011	70%	Not completing 360° observations whilst reversing. Staring at mirrors and not periodically observing all around. Being unaware of pedestrians and other car park users.	The most frequently used car parks are cramped or have an uneven surface, thus requiring higher concentration for accuracy and risking sloppy observation.
Response to road users	0.011	0.023	-0.012	49%	Failing to respond to another road user clearly giving way. Waiting behind parked or broken down vehicles without attempting to overtake. Being oblivious or inconsiderate to other drivers when merging in turn.	Busy or chaotic high streets and city centres.
Forward bay park - observation	0.010	0.022	-0.012	45%	Not completing 360° observations whilst reversing out of the bay. Staring at mirrors and not periodically observing all around. Being unaware of pedestrians and other car park users.	The most frequently used car parks are cramped or have an uneven surface, thus requiring higher concentration for accuracy and risking sloppy observation.
Following distance	0.058	0.071	-0.013	82%	Driving too close to the vehicle in front, failing to maintain a safe stopping distance. Not increasing the following distance in rain, fog or ice. Failing to adjust the following distance when driving behind larger vehicles. Not anticipating the braking actions of the vehicle in front, leading to a sudden need to brake harshly.	Stop-start heavy traffic on busy roads, especially those with traffic lights, can cause learners to feel pressured to misjudge safe following distances. Fast moving traffic on dual carriageways where other vehicles are likely to slow down rapidly due to lane layouts and sliproads.
Control - clutch	0.013	0.027	-0.014	47%	Keeping the clutch pedal held down (coasting) reducing your control of the car.	N/A
Parallel park - control	0.072	0.086	-0.014	84%	Inability to control the vehicle whilst reversing. Touching the curb or driving over the pavement. Needing to reposition the car and reattempt the maneuvre multiple times. Finishing too far from the curb or the car in front.	Test routes where the parallel park is performed on roads with a steep road camber, an uneven road surface or less space.
Junctions - cutting corners	0.010	0.025	-0.015	39%	Poor steering or positioning when making a turn, causing you to briefly drive on the wrong side of the road. Where parked cars make it impossible to avoid cutting corners, doing so at speed without enhanced observation.	Test routes with tight junctions and cars parked near junctions.
Reverse right - control	0.013	0.028	-0.015	46%	When asked to pull over to the right of the road and reverse two car lengths, vehicle control was poor. Touching or driving onto the pavement when reversing. Being too far from the pavement before and/or after the maneuvre.	N/A
Emergency stop	0.007	0.022	-0.015	31%	Reacting too slowly after the examiner shouts 'Stop!'. Stopping too slowly due to improper use of footbrake and clutch. NOTE: 360° observations are required when moving off, but these are marked under 'Move off - safely'.	N/A
Signals - necessary	0.082	0.098	-0.016	84%	Not signalling when pulling away from the kerb. Not signalling when pulling up at the side of the road. Not signalling when turning left or right at a junction. Not signalling when changing lanes or overtaking. Not signalling when joining or exiting a dual carriageway.	Complex road layouts with frequent lane changes may overwhelm some learners. Unclear road markings and signs might lead to last minute rushed lane changes.
Reverse right - observation	0.025	0.042	-0.017	59%	When asked to pull over to the right of the road and reverse two car lengths, observations were poor. Failing to stop for passing cars and nearby pedestrians. Relying on just the mirrors to check surroundings; no blind spot checks. Not judging oncoming traffic safely when moving across to the right.	N/A
Mirrors - change direction	0.148	0.169	-0.021	88%	Failing to check mirrors when exiting a roundabout. Failing to check mirrors when changing lanes.	Complex multi-lane roundabouts and one-way systems.
Forward bay park - control	0.042	0.065	-0.024	64%	Failing to accurately park within the marked lines of the bay (it is okay to be crooked). Inability to control the vehicle whilst reversing out of the bay. Touching or driving over curbs whilst performing the maneuvre. Needing to reposition the car and reattempt the maneuvre multiple times.	The most frequently used car parks are cramped or have an uneven surface.
Response to road markings	0.027	0.052	-0.025	52%	Driving in an incorrect lane that was clearly marked. Ignoring lane arrows at junctions (e.g. left turn only). Ignoring a give way line and assuming priority. Stopping within a cycle box, not respecting advanced stop lines.	Road markings worn away due to infrequent maintenance and/or heavy traffic. Complex or confusing lane restrictions. Road markings can be easily missed in slow moving traffic, especially when other road users may not follow them. Give way lines draw in unusual places.
Mirrors - change speed	0.145	0.171	-0.027	84%	Failing to check mirrors when slowing down. Failing to check mirrors when speeding up, creating danger for anyone overtaking. Accidentally slowing due to improper gear selection.	Roads with harsh speed limit changes. Fast hilly roads where learners may forget to downshift as needed, causing accidental slow-downs.
Parallel park - observation	0.020	0.047	-0.027	42%	Not completing 360° observations whilst reversing. Staring at mirrors and not periodically observing all around. Being unaware of pedestrians and other road users. Getting too close to parked cars and other obstacles when maneuvring.	Test routes where the parallel park is performed on busier roads with more hazards.
Positioning - lane discipline	0.018	0.046	-0.028	39%	Straddling lanes, preventing other road users from overtaking. Drifting over lane markings due to lack of control or concentration.	Roads with complex lane configurations. Dual carriageways with bends, requiring extra skill to maintain a central position.
Junctions - turning right	0.036	0.071	-0.036	50%	Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions. Not positioning to the right of the road when turning right. Turning right at a roundabout using the incorrect lane. Not using the waiting area in the middle of the road when waiting to turn right, therefore blocking traffic behind.	Confusing road layouts, worn road markings and circuitous test routes involving waiting area for right turns. Roundabouts with many exits making lane choice less obvious. Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Judgement - meeting	0.058	0.102	-0.044	57%	Failing to slow down or adjust your position when approaching an oncoming vehicle on a narrow road. Misjudging the speed of an oncoming vehicle and failing to allow sufficient space for it to pass safely. Continuing towards other vehicles when they have priority.	Narrow residential roads, particularly those lined with parked cars. Residential roads with hills and bends, requiring faster reaction time.
Positioning - normal driving	0.114	0.166	-0.052	69%	Not driving in the centre of the lane. Driving for too long in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason. 'Straight-lining' a roundabout. Not driving in the bus lane when it is allowed at that time.	Many timed bus lanes around test centre. Multi-lane roundabouts with worn lane markings.
Position - normal stops	0.111	0.164	-0.053	68%	Stopping in a location that obstructs a driveway, a junction, or a bus stop. Parking with one or more wheels on the pavement. Parking too far from the kerb.	Inner city test areas with limited roadside parking. Areas where residents habitually park on the pavement can trick learners into thinking it is acceptable.
Vehicle checks	0.089	0.142	-0.054	62%	Getting either the show me or tell me question wrong (one minor fault). Losing control of the car when answering the show me question.	N/A
Use of speed (too fast)	0.092	0.161	-0.070	57%	Driving above the posted speed limit. Failing to reduce speed when approaching a hazard, such as a pedestrian crossing or a bend in the road. Driving too fast on a road with potholes or poor surface condition (regardless of the posted speed limit). Driving too fast on a national speed limit road (60 mph is often too dangerous). Driving at a speed that is unsafe for the weather - rain, fog, or ice.	Recently changed speed limits that conflict with old limits displayed on satnav. Sudden speed limit changes, especially on exit sliproads. Inadequate signage, road markings and traffic calming measures. Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads. 20 mph main roads where locals ignore the limit and overtake learners, causing pressure to keep pace. Clearly signed 30/40/50/NSL roads that pressure learners to make progress despite potholes, bends, etc.
Awareness / planning	0.048	0.120	-0.072	40%	Not anticipating the actions of other road users and reacting late to hazards or changes in traffic flow. Waiting behind parked or broken down vehicles without attempting to overtake. Being oblivious or inconsiderate to other drivers when merging in turn. Not anticipating that pedestrians are about to cross, or walk upon the road.	Busy or chaotic high streets and city centres. High numbers of cyclists and/or confusing cycle infrastructure. Semi- or fully-pedestrianised roads with pedestrians walking freely around.
Junctions - observation	0.125	0.213	-0.088	59%	Emerging at a T-junction or roundabout and causing another vehicle to slow down. Emerging from a junction without adequate observations (even if clear). Sailing through a crossroads without stopping and looking. Joining a dual carriageway via a sliproad without sufficient mirror and blind spot checks. Turning right in front of oncoming traffic, causing them to slow down.	Junctions onto busy roads with fast flowing traffic, small gaps and the requirement to build speed quickly to avoid slowing others behind. Short, curvy or otherwise awkward sliproads onto dual carriageways. Busy high streets and main roads with poor visibility and bikes overtaking.
Control - steering	0.259	0.350	-0.091	74%	Steering too much, too little, too early or too late. Mounting the curb when steering out of a junction. Briefly driving on the wrong side of the road when turning through a junction.	Tight junctions and narrow roads. Sharp left or right turns on test routes.
Progress - speed (too slow)	0.313	0.407	-0.094	77%	Driving significantly below the speed limit on a clear road without a valid reason (especially if it impacts drivers behind or causes them to overtake). Being hesitant to build speed on a sliproad so as to merge safely. Slowing down excessively for minor hazards, such as slight bends. Losing speed due to improper gear selection on a hill.	Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads - learners may 'hedge' their bets by driving at 20 until they are sure the limit is 30. Rural national speed limit roads. Fast roads with hills and bends, requiring frequent gear changes to maintain progress. Short sliproads necessitating confident acceleration.
Move off - safely	0.327	0.433	-0.106	76%	When parked on the road, moving off and causing oncoming traffic to brake or swerve. Not checking mirrors and blindspots when moving off from a parked position. Not completing all 360° observations when continuing after an emergency stop.	Test routes involve stopping on busier roads. Test routes involve stopping on bendy residential roads with restricted visibility.
Clearance / obstructions	0.028	0.153	-0.125	18%	Driving too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space. Driving too close to parked vehicles or other fixed structures.	Narrow roads with limited space for cars to give way to each other. Awkwardly placed width restrictors. High levels of traffic and/or bus routes on narrow roads.
Progress - undue hesitation	0.206	0.360	-0.154	57%	Not emerging from a junction when it is safe to do so. Waiting unnecessarily for another road user to pass who has clearly given way to you. Failing to maintain momentum when joining a clear roundabout. Ignoring shields and exit signals on mini-roundabouts and therefore missing many opportunities to proceed.	Areas and times with fast, flowing traffic and non-obvious gaps. Busy mini-roundabouts. Test routes with stops along busy main roads.

Maneuvre Statistics

Each driving test includes one of four reversing maneuvres, with about a third also including an emergency stop (or controlled stop). The table below shows the frequency of each maneuvre. 'Fail %' reflects how often a serious or dangerous fault was given whilst doing the maneuvre itself - i.e. how likely is it to fail to complete this maneuvre and hence fail the test. From this, we can infer each maneuvre's relative difficulty. Pass rate is completely different - it shows the overall pass rate for tests that included this maneuvre. What causes this disparity and why does this data not compute? (long)

Background Information

Disclaimer: I am not a driving examiner. ADIs have told me contradictory things. I have done my best to formulate a consensus.

Random selection: DVSA software randomly chooses the specifics of your test for you on the day. This includes the route itself, the maneuvre, the show me/tell me questions and whether you are asked to do an emergency stop.
Strict time schedules: If a test overruns, this could impact the next candidate's test. Examiners may need to amend the generated test to ensure it finishes on time.
Maneuvring at the test centre: The fastest maneuvre to complete is a reverse bay park into a marked bay at the test centre at the end of the test. If the test is running late, this may be the only maneuvre you are asked to do.
Emergency stop timing: The emergency stop is usually requested towards the end of the test. It can add 1-2 minutes to the test duration.
Dangerous faults: Candidates who make a dangerous fault will usually be asked to drive back to the test centre immediately and directly. The test will end early.
Inexperienced drivers finish last: A driving test should not be conducted like a race, but the time taken to complete a test route is somewhat correlated with ability and therefore, pass rate. Conversely, a slower, more hesitant driver is at greater risk of arriving back late.

Why isn't the frequency of each reversing maneuvre exactly 25%?

In theory, each maneuvre should be randomly assigned, aiming for an even distribution across tests. However, opportunities to complete certain maneuvres may be impeded by traffic or parking availability. Point 3 explains why reverse bay parks are much more common in some test centres. Remember, the 'forward bay park' also requires the candidate to reverse out of the bay. It is rarely done at the test centre itself.

Why don't the reversing maneuvre frequencies add up to 100%?

See point 5. If the test is ended early, if the maneuvre has not been completed yet, it will be skipped entirely. In the 0.6% of tests where no maneuvre has been recorded, none of them passed.

Why don't 33% of tests have an emergency stop

In theory, exactly 1 in 3 tests should have an emergency stop. However, see point 5. If the test is ended early, the emergency stop will be skipped if it hasn't been done yet. Alternatively, it might be skipped due to point 2. Both reasons are compounded by point 4.

Why doesn't the overall pass rate align with fault rates for each maneuvre?

Here we delve into a more contentious topic. It is irrefutable that more candidates fail at parallel parking than any of the other maneuvres. So why is this not reflected in the overall pass rate?

The reverse bay park backstop: Points 2, 3 and 6. Slow candidates are more likely to be assigned a reverse bay park. Those who ultimately completed this maneuvre statistically collected more faults for maintaining progress.
Faults within car parks: Completing a bay park maneuvre often requires entering a non-DVSA car park. Increased fail rates might be due to serious faults accumulated whilst traversing the car park, rather than the actual maneuvre.
Route pairing: Harder maneuvres may be assigned to easier routes to balance overall difficulty.

Why is the emergency stop associated with higher pass rates?

Counterintuitively, despite being an additional task, candidates who were asked to complete an emergency stop tend to have higher pass rates.

Tests cut short: Per point 5, if the test must be ended early, the emergency stop will be skipped. This associates non-emergency-stoppers with the 7% cohort of drivers that had a dangerous fault.
Slow candidates: Points 2 and 6. Slow candidates are more likely to arrive back late. It is easy to skip the emergency stop if the test is running late. Per point 4, it is usually planned towards the end. Meanwhile, fast, experienced drivers have this time to spare and accumulate statistically fewer faults.

Maneuvre	Frequency	Local Fail %	UK Fail %	Local Overall Pass Rate	UK Overall Pass Rate	Details:
Parallel park	22.63%	8.36%	13.00%	66.56%	49.79%	Pull up alongside a parked car chosen by the examiner. Reverse in and park reasonably close (~30 cm max) and parallel to the kerb and within two car lengths of the parked car. You may readjust. You must perform 360° observations before reversing and maintain good awareness throughout.
Reverse bay park	30.28%	4.50%	8.39%	60.75%	47.22%	Reverse into any parking bay on the left or right. You must finish within the lines, but you don't need to be straight and you can readjust. You must perform 360° observations before reversing and maintain good awareness throughout. This might be carried out in the test centre car park.
Forward bay park	18.93%	4.00%	4.93%	73.20%	50.85%	Drive forwards into any parking bay on the left or right. You must finish within the lines, but you don't need to be straight and you can readjust. Then reverse out. You must perform 360° observations before reversing and maintain good awareness throughout.
Reverse right	27.55%	2.75%	6.65%	71.98%	48.12%	Pull up on the right-hand side of the road. Reverse back two car lengths, keeping reasonably close to the kerb (~30 cm max). Then rejoin the traffic. You must perform 360° observations before reversing and maintain good awareness throughout.
Emergency stop	29.67%	0.00%	1.32%	79.85%	57.30%	Following a briefing, you will be directed to drive straight ahead. The examiner will say 'Stop!' and you must brake quickly and safely. Then drive on. You must perform 360° observations before moving off.

Time of Day

For some test centres, there is some variance in pass rate by time of day. Some faults are easier to make at busy times, and others when roads are clear. On a national level, these balance out and there is no clear correlation on time of day versus pass rates. In this table, Time refers to the test's planned start time. A test starting 11:55 would appear in the 11:00-12:00 bucket. Pay attention to the average number of tests per day scheduled at each of these times. Small sample size bias can cause very rare slot times to exhibit unusually high or low pass rates - they should largely be ignored.

Time	Mon-Fri	Saturday	Sunday
07:00-08:00	100.00% (0.01/day)	100.00% (0.07/day)
08:00-09:00	70.21% (0.92/day)	73.77% (1.99/day)	60.00% (0.33/day)
09:00-10:00	74.71% (0.57/day)	40.00% (0.16/day)	83.33% (0.20/day)
10:00-11:00	68.92% (0.96/day)	63.64% (1.07/day)	87.50% (0.26/day)
11:00-12:00	68.18% (0.72/day)	54.55% (1.07/day)	100.00% (0.26/day)
12:00-13:00	57.69% (0.17/day)	55.56% (0.88/day)	100.00% (0.07/day)
13:00-14:00	76.36% (0.72/day)	55.88% (1.11/day)	56.25% (0.52/day)
14:00-15:00	67.52% (0.76/day)	44.12% (1.11/day)	40.91% (0.72/day)
15:00-16:00	70.16% (0.81/day)	65.00% (0.65/day)	63.64% (0.36/day)
16:00-17:00	68.13% (0.59/day)		36.36% (0.36/day)
17:00-18:00	44.44% (0.06/day)		66.67% (0.20/day)
18:00-19:00	37.50% (0.05/day)
All times	69.55% (6.33/day)	60.24% (8.11/day)	61.00% (3.26/day)

Local Area Information

Address: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Kendal, Unit 2, Wayfaring House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, LA9 7RL

View this area in Google Maps.

OpenStreetMap can be useful as a research aid, but be warned that its accuracy and completeness can vary by area. If you find mistakes, why not consider fixing it? Most satnavs directly or indirectly use OSM for speed limits - you might just save another learner from speeding during their test! These links display roads based on the tagged speed limits: 20 mph 30 mph 40 mph 50+ mph 60+ mph 70+ mph National Speed Limit

See all reported stop signs on OSM.

For most popular test centres, a local instructor has helpfully uploaded some old test routes to plotaroute.com. No results? Try searching manually.

This page was created in November 2024 and the data covers all 1321 tests between April 2023 and October 2023

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