UK Edition
One in five experienced drivers would fail driving test
New study reveals a large proportion of UK motorists struggle with everyday driving manoeuvres
One in five qualified UK drivers believe they would fail the driving test if they had to take it again tomorrow, with parking sighted as the number one reason why people expected to struggle.
The findings are based on research conducted by Young Driver (a company specialising in driving lessons for 10- to 17-year-olds), which questioned people on skills related to some of the most common driving manoeuvres.
Twenty eight per cent of those questioned said they struggled to parallel park, while a quarter admitted that reversing into a parking bay was a challenge they preferred to avoid; for female drivers those figures increased to 36 and 30 per cent respectively.
In addition, a quarter of drivers said they regularly parked some distance from where they needed to be in order to get an “easier” parking space which didn’t require as much skill.
It’s not just parking that causes problems, however; one in six people admitted they struggle to complete a turn in the road without needing to undertake significantly more manoeuvres than the traditional three-point turn.
Kim Stanton, head of Young Driver, said: “When you learn to drive you are taught specific techniques to help you get your parking and reversing spot on, every time. But once you pass your test, unless you continue to use those techniques, the skills can quickly fade.
“Our new research shows that before long, many drivers are actively avoiding having to try, even if it means parking a long way from their destination and walking the rest of the way.”
The research suggests that the number of drivers who think they would fail their test if they had to sit it again increases with age, peaking at 24 per cent of over 65s.
A previous study carried out on behalf of Churchill car insurance found that two thirds of experienced drivers would fail the theory test if they had to take it now.
For all the latest news, advice and reviews from Telegraph Cars, sign up to our weekly newsletter by entering your email here
Could you pass the theory test?
Here are 10 of the DVSA's official practice questions - see how well you do:
Cars that are easy to park
