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A recent study undertaken by Churchill insurance shows that two thirds of drivers have forgotten about the Highway Code, so much so that they would fail their theory test if they had to take it again!
Those of who were re-tested found the biggest stumbling block to be the reading of basic traffic signs, which really does highlight the importance of this study and suggests that a change does need to be made. One way in which this problem could be tackled is for insurance companies to offer booster lessons and force drivers to retake elements of their theory test after a set number of years. Not only will this help ensure the knowledge of the road remains current, it will also contribute towards safer roads as a result.
50% Didn’t Finish Their Theory Test
Participants did however do well when it came to answering questions to do with dealing with other types of vehicles, which suggests that their experience on the road has enhanced their ability to judge certain situations.
The study went on to show that 50% of those involved did not answer enough of the multiple choice questions correctly, while 34% failed the hazard perception test. If they had been taking this exam for the first time, they would be required to pass both parts of the theory test to demonstrate basic knowledge of the road.
Experts from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency unsurprisingly found these findings to be a huge cause for concern and said that road illiteracy can lead to slow, uncertain and unsafe driving.
More Than Half of Drivers Agree with Compulsory Theory Tests
When the participants were asked whether or not they think it should be compulsory to retake the theory test, 53% of them concluded that it is a vital step to make to ensure road safety. The most popular time frame suggested to be most appropriate to retake the test came in at just over 10 years.
1 in 12 people suggested that they would like to see retests carried out every five years, but 1 in 7 drivers felt they were ‘completely road literate’.
Ian Mclntosh from the Red Driving School said, “It is very worrying that road illiteracy among experience motorists is so widespread.”
New Drivers Scored Higher
Overall, new drivers taking the test scored far higher than the experienced drivers on average. So does this mean our youngsters are more road savvy than us?
Due to the fact that the hazard perception test was only introduced properly in 2002, it is likely that a wide percentage of drivers on UK roads were not required undertake a theory test like the one that is in place today. Today we see the theory test as an essential part of a driver’s road education and therefore we should encourage all motorists to ensure their driving knowledge is current.
If you feel you could brush up on a few things, book your theory test online with us now and we’ll guide you along the way.
