Does your driving test center's location affect your success?

Passing your driving test is all about hard work and preparation, right? Maybe not. Several studies show that some cities have a consistently higher pass rate than others. Check out it out below:

Rural vs Urban

The further away you are from the city, the better. For instance, Gairloch, Scotland, has a pass rate of 76.5%. Compare this to Wood Green, London, where the pass rate is a dismal 37.5%. Overall, ¼ of women and 1/3 of men pass in urban cities, while almost ¾ of all aspiring drivers pass in rural ones.

Why the difference?

More practice in rural areas: Driving instructors says that in rural areas, people pick up driving skills for farm work when they’re quite young. In urban areas, however, there are no wide, open and safe spaces for youngsters to get behind the wheel.

Language difficulties: Cities with high levels of immigration often have low pass rates because the aspiring drivers have to answer the test in English. While interpreters are allowed during the driving theory test, the language barrier does influence the pass rate.

Less hazards in rural areas? Many have concluded that built up areas will have a great number of hazards, while rural areas, which have their own set of challenges like cattle, etc, will have lesser hazards.

Top 5 centres with the lowest pass rate

According to the DVLA’s statistics, these test centres have the lowest pass rate as of March 2016:

Belvedere (London): 30.3%

Birmingham (South Yardley): 31.5%

Wanstead (London): 32%

Cheetham Hill (Manchester): 32.2%

Garston (Liverpool): 34.1%

By now, you’re probably considering relocating to some part of Wales to get your license, but don’t panic. Practising in the city you live in will only make you more prepared for its roads when you are cruising solo. Moreover, factors like preparation, study aids – if you’re on the lookout, we have some great apps and revision tools at UK Drive Test - and driving instructors heavily influence your chances of success. So take a deep breath and continue practicing, you’ll get your license soon enough. 

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