Majority of drivers fail first test

Young drivers can relax a bit more before taking their test, as new figures have revealed that the majority of motorists fail at least once.

Official numbers suggest that as many as 53.4% of new drivers did not pass the practical, on-road section of their test first time.

The figures also showed that men are more likely to pass the test and tear up their L-plates, with 50.1% of men successful compared to 43.4% of women.

The statistics come from the Department for Transport and cover 393,025 motorists sitting their practical exam between October and December 2013

The amount of theory exams taken in that time was 415,849 - representing a 6.5% jump on those who took test in the same period the previous year. The theory test's pass rate was virtually half and half with 50.1% of applicants successful.

This was worse than the final three months of 2013 but better than the October-December 2014 practical test pass rates.

In order to gain a full license, would-be drivers need to pass both theory and practical sections of the test.

Share this article