Common Driving Test Faults

Knowing the most common reasons people fail their driving test can help you identify areas that need more practice before test day.

The DVSA publishes the most common reasons learners fail their practical driving test in Great Britain. The latest figures show that many test failures aren’t caused by complicated situations. They often involve everyday driving skills such as observations at junctions, using mirrors, moving off safely, positioning when turning right and responding to traffic lights.

If you regularly make these mistakes during your driving lessons or private practice, it’s worth spending more time on them before your test.

1. Not Making Effective Observations at Junctions

According to the DVSA, not making effective observations at junctions is the most common reason for failing the driving test.

Simply looking isn’t enough. You need to properly assess what you can see and make a safe decision. This means judging the position and speed of approaching vehicles and recognising when it is safe to proceed.

Looking is only useful if you understand what you’ve seen and act on it correctly.

2. Not Using Mirrors Correctly When Changing Direction

Your mirrors provide important information about what is happening behind and alongside your car. You should use them before changing direction, changing lanes or making a significant change in speed.

A common mistake is checking the mirrors but failing to respond to what you see. For example, you might check your mirrors before changing lanes but still move across when another vehicle is alongside you.

Check your mirrors, understand what you’ve seen and then decide whether it’s safe to act.

3. Not Moving Off Safely

Before moving away, make effective observations and make sure it is safe to enter the flow of traffic.

This applies whenever you move off, including from the side of the road, from behind a parked vehicle, after an emergency stop and after completing the pull-up on the right exercise.

Check your mirrors and the appropriate blind spot before moving. If another vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian could be affected, wait until it is safe.

Don’t make the observations simply because you’ve been taught a routine. Make them because you need to know whether it is safe to move.

4. Incorrect Positioning When Turning Right at Junctions

Correct positioning helps other road users understand what you intend to do and puts your car in the right position to make the turn safely.

When turning right, you would normally position the car towards the centre of the road where it is safe and appropriate to do so. Positioning too far to the left can confuse other road users and may encourage traffic to attempt to pass you.

Positioning is also important when approaching roundabouts. Make sure you understand which lane you need and position the vehicle early enough to avoid sudden changes of direction.

Plan early and position the car so that your intentions are clear to other road users.

5. Not Responding Appropriately to Traffic Lights

Traffic light faults aren’t limited to driving through a red light. You need to understand what the signals mean and respond appropriately to the road conditions around you.

Common problems can include stopping in an inappropriate position, failing to move when it is safe to proceed, entering a junction when your exit isn’t clear or failing to respond correctly as the lights change.

Look well ahead as you approach traffic lights. This gives you more time to assess the situation, adjust your speed and respond smoothly rather than making a last-second decision.

Don’t just react to the traffic light. Consider the junction, other road users and whether the road ahead is clear.

Use Your Driving Lessons to Identify Weak Areas

One mistake during a lesson doesn’t necessarily mean you have a problem with that particular skill. However, if the same type of fault keeps appearing, you should work on it with your instructor.

As your test gets closer, focus on maintaining a consistent standard of driving rather than trying to complete a lesson without mistakes.

Use the NSOM Academy

If there’s an area of your driving you’re finding difficult, use the NSOM Academy to review the skills you’ve covered during your lessons.

The Academy includes driving guides to help you refresh your knowledge away from the car. Then put what you’ve learned into practice during your next driving lesson.

Practise Between Your Driving Lessons

Private practice is a good opportunity to work on the areas you’ve identified during your driving lessons. Rather than simply driving around, choose one or two skills to concentrate on during each drive.

For example, you might focus on observations at junctions, mirror use, moving off safely or positioning. Ask yourself: what information do I need, what can I see, and what should I do?

Use private practice alongside your professional driving lessons to improve these areas and develop the consistency you need for your practical driving test.