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There’s good news for budding drivers who are about to take their driving test – more people are passing the practical aspect of the UK driving test on their first attempt than ever before! According to the Government’s DSA1202 report, the average pass rate in 2007-2008 was 43.3 percent, which rose to 47.9 percent during the 2013-2014 period. Pass rates for tests taken in automatic vehicles are also rising steadily, from 27.5 percent on average in 2007-2008 to 38.9 percent in 2013-2014.
Will I Pass?
Does an increasing pass rate mean that you’re more likely to pass your test? According to experts, the answer to that question really depends on where you live. Figures suggest that you’re more likely to pass in areas such as Ballachulish, Benbecula Island, and Lairg in the Scottish Highlands and Outer Hebrides – these relatively quiet areas have average pass rates of more than 80 percent! However, Barking and Belvedere in London, and South Yardley in Birmingham, all have average pass rates less than 40 percent.
It is suggested that the reason that the pass rate is rising in the more rural areas especially is that drivers have greater opportunities for learning out in the open, and putting their theory knowledge into practice from a much earlier age. Drivers in rural areas are also perhaps less likely to encounter situations that could negatively influence driving style – such as reacting unsafely or dangerously to a city centre crash, for example. ‘People in rural communities tend to be more experienced. An awful lot of them have learnt the skills driving around a field’, says John Lepine of the Motor Schools Association.
Why are More People Choosing Not to Drive?
An interesting finding is that while pass rates are increasing, the number of people actually taking their driving test is decreasing. In fact, there were 791,098 first attempt driving tests taken between 2007 and 2008, with that figure dropping rapidly to just 667,740 first attempts between 2013 and 2014. It appears that more and more of us are choosing not to get behind the wheel, but why?
The National Travel Survey conducted back in 2012 gives a few hints as to why learning to drive isn’t quite as popular as it once was. According to the survey, 29 percent of non-license holders claim they are not interested in driving, and the same amount cite a reliance on friends and family as a reason for not learning. However, the most common reason for not taking the test was the associated cost. 32 percent of non-license holders cite the cost of learning as the primary reason for them not driving.
With insurance prices being notoriously high for young drivers, the cost of learning to drive can seem steep, but it’s important to remember that, if you do want to get behind the wheel, it’s best to learn while you are young. While 4 percent of 17-20 year olds have no intention of learning to drive, that figure rises significantly to 99 percent of the over 60’s! Learning while you’re older can be more challenging, so what’s stopping you? Book your lessons today and get driving!
