Driving instructor names one common mistake that leads to most fails on tests

A driving instructor has shared the common mistake that many learners make on their driving test as they fall into the trap of "not doing proper observations at junctions".

Every year millions take the leap and start learning to drive, but fewer than half of would-be motorists pass their driving test first time according to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) statistics.

There are a whole variety of reasons why some learners fall flat on their face, but one driving instructor has pinpointed the standout reason that catches them out.

In a chat with the Daily Express, driving instructor Kev Walsh, from the Kev Walsh Driving School, has shared his experiences of tutoring those hopeful of securing a driving licence.

Detailing the number one reason that catches people out, he said that it is "not doing proper observations at junctions", before unpicking exactly why so many seem to fall into that trap: "Normally that’s not noticing a car on the new road you’re joining but can also be misjudging the other vehicle's speed and pulling out when they should’ve waited."

Meanwhile, the government released its own list of the top 10 reasons why people fail their driving tests in Britain earlier this month.

While "not making effective observations at junctions" comes out in top spot, it was closely followed by "not using mirrors correctly when changing direction".

They said that there are a number of instances when we should be taking extra care to look at our wing mirrors, specifically highlighting when we're on roundabouts and when changing lanes on a dual carriageway.

Kev also highlighted another crucial aspect of driving that catches so many learners out as he explained how road signs can also be an issue for some drivers.

He said: "I’d say most people can work out their signs but it’s much more likely that they just don’t notice the sign in the first place. This is really common when a straight road has a change of speed limit."

In the most recent round of government stats, that looked at the pass rate of those taking their practical test between January and March 2024, 47 per cent passed out of the 560,544 that were taken in the UK. Out of those that passed, 115,442 were female, while 148,012 were male.

Over the last decade the UK's pass rate has generally tended to hover at around the 45 to 50 per cent mark while there was an evident incline in the number of those that passed in 2020/21.

In the year or two that followed the number of successful learners remained consistent at the 48 to 49 per cent mark.