Do you think the UK drivers licence has gotten easier or harder since you had to take it?
We recently surveyed more than 1,000 British motorists and found that 22% don’t think they would keep their licence if they had to retake the test.
The number of unsure drivers was even higher when asked about whether they thought they could pass the theory test.
Our research also identified what qualified drivers think about how well the current form of testing prepares hopeful motorists for unsupervised driving and found that almost a third of motorists want to update the testing procedure.
Respondents suggested that the practical exam could be improved by making candidates drive in different weather conditions, adding a night driving section and setting a minimum number of lessons that candidates must take before attempting the test.
Drivers believed the independent driving section of the exam should be amended to include a better mix of road types and traffic density.
We also asked drivers about what other driving laws they would change and found that more than half of respondents would support a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol in your system when driving.
Almost half (44%) are in favour of a graduated driving licence scheme for new drivers, including mandatory ‘P’ plates for the first two years of driving, as well as restricting the speed new drivers can travel at and the types of roads they can use.
Respondents want to put similar restrictions on elderly drivers, with 42% voting to retest drivers at the age of 80. However, 13% would rather octogenarian motorists be banned completely instead.
View the complete list of questions and answers from our driving survey below.
How many attempts did it take you to pass your driving theory test?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
N/A - I received my driving licence before July 1996 |
390 |
37.75% |
|
1 |
507 |
49.08% |
|
2 |
82 |
7.94% |
|
3 |
35 |
3.39% |
|
4 |
10 |
0.97% |
|
5 |
5 |
0.48% |
|
6 |
0 |
0.00% |
|
7 |
1 |
0.10% |
|
Can’t remember |
3 |
0.29% |
How many attempts did it take you to pass your practical driving test?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
1 |
520 |
50% |
|
2 |
288 |
28% |
|
3 |
127 |
12% |
|
4 |
42 |
4% |
|
5 |
18 |
2% |
|
6 |
10 |
1% |
|
7 |
2 |
0% |
|
8+ |
2 |
0% |
|
Can’t remember |
24 |
2% |
When did you pass your driving test?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
Before 1951 |
6 |
1% |
|
1951 - 1960 |
61 |
6% |
|
1961 - 1970 |
145 |
14% |
|
1971 - 1980 |
190 |
18% |
|
1981 - 1990 |
237 |
23% |
|
1991 - 2000 |
228 |
22% |
|
2001 - 2010 |
160 |
15% |
|
2011 - 2019 |
6 |
1% |
How many hours driving experience would you estimate you had before passing your driving test? (In hours)
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
0 |
1 |
0% |
|
1 - 10 |
41 |
4% |
|
11 - 20 |
151 |
15% |
|
21 - 30 |
196 |
19% |
|
31 - 40 |
202 |
20% |
|
41 - 50 |
139 |
13% |
|
51 - 60 |
84 |
8% |
|
61 - 70 |
40 |
4% |
|
71 - 80 |
28 |
3% |
|
81+ |
71 |
7% |
|
Not sure |
80 |
8% |
Have you ever been found to be at fault for a traffic accident?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
No |
874 |
85% |
|
Yes |
159 |
15% |
How confident are you that the current UK theory and practical driving exam prepares motorists for unassisted driving?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
Very confident |
89 |
9% |
|
Quite confident |
504 |
49% |
|
Not very confident |
265 |
26% |
|
Not confident at all |
59 |
6% |
|
Not sure |
116 |
11% |
How confident are you that the theory test prepares drivers for unassisted driving?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
Not confident at all |
60 |
6% |
|
Very confident |
77 |
7% |
|
Quite confident |
510 |
49% |
|
Not very confident |
286 |
28% |
|
Not confident at all |
60 |
6% |
|
Not sure |
100 |
10% |
How confident are you that the general driving section prepares drivers for unassisted driving?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
Very confident |
106 |
10% |
|
Quite confident |
595 |
58% |
|
Not very confident |
234 |
23% |
|
Not confident at all |
42 |
4% |
|
Not sure |
56 |
5% |
How confident are you that the reversing section prepares drivers for unassisted driving?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
Very confident |
160 |
15% |
|
Quite confident |
578 |
56% |
|
Not very confident |
197 |
19% |
|
Not confident at all |
44 |
4% |
|
Not sure |
54 |
5% |
How confident are you that the independent driving section prepares drivers for unassisted driving?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
Very confident |
156 |
15% |
|
Quite confident |
596 |
58% |
|
Not very confident |
168 |
16% |
|
Not confident at all |
38 |
4% |
|
Not sure |
75 |
7% |
How confident are you that you would pass if you had to retake your practical test today?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
Very confident |
228 |
22% |
|
Quite confident |
552 |
53% |
|
Not very confident |
179 |
17% |
|
Not confident at all |
44 |
4% |
|
Not sure |
30 |
3% |
How confident are you that you would pass if you had to retake the theory test today?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
Very confident |
228 |
22% |
|
Quite confident |
432 |
42% |
|
Not very confident |
225 |
22% |
|
Not confident at all |
66 |
6% |
|
Not sure |
82 |
8% |
Which of the following proposed changes to driving law would you support?
|
Answer |
Count |
% |
|
Zero tolerance to any alcohol in your system while driving |
569 |
55% |
|
Mandatory ‘P’ plates – required for up to two years after passing a test |
447 |
43% |
|
Making people over the age of 80 retake their driving test |
412 |
40% |
|
Making people over the age of 70 retake their driving test |
369 |
36% |
|
Making people over the age of 90 retake their driving test |
364 |
35% |
|
Restrict drivers with less than six months experience from driving at speeds over 60 mph |
352 |
34% |
|
Ban eating, drinking or smoking while driving |
313 |
30% |
|
Restrict drivers with less than six months experience from roads during certain times, such as late at night |
296 |
29% |
|
Learners must show proficiency in driving in winter to pass driving test |
268 |
26% |
|
Restrict drivers with less than six months experience from driving on motorways |
244 |
24% |
|
Learners must show proficiency driving on different road surfaces to pass driving test |
240 |
23% |
|
Banning people over the age of 90 from driving |
221 |
21% |
|
Learners must show proficiency driving while using a sat nav |
220 |
21% |
|
Banning people over the age of 80 from driving |
131 |
13% |
|
Enforce daylight running lights at all hours |
123 |
12% |
|
Have to show map reading proficiency while using a sat nav |
118 |
11% |
|
Higher alcohol limits |
97 |
9% |
|
Abolish the driving theory test |
51 |
5% |
|
Banning people over the age of 70 from driving |
34 |
3% |