More Than A Fifth Of Drivers Do Not Think They Could Pass Their Driving Test Again

We recently surveyed 1,000 British motorists to find out how they feel about the currrent UK driving test and found that more than a fifth don't think they would be able to keep their licence if they had to retake the practical driving exam today.

In this article we detail the questions we asked and the shocking details we learned from the respondents. Click through to find out what respondents said.

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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%