Express & Star

Black Country one of UK's toughest places to take driving test

Find out how hard is it to pass the driving test in your area.

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The driving test pass rate is higher in Staffordshire than in the Black Country

Around two thirds of learner drivers are failing their tests in parts of the Black Country – making it one of the toughest places to pass in the UK.

At test centres in Wolverhampton and Wednesbury just 37.5 per cent of all learners passed their practical tests between April 2017 and March 2018 – way below the national average of 46 per cent.

There was a better pass rate at Dudley’s Lower Gornal centre, where 48.9 per cent of people passed – 4,861.

And the figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency show that Stafford had a better than average pass rate too.

Over the year there were 1,393 passes from 2,807 tests at a rate of 49.6 per cent.

The toughest place to pass in the country was The Pavilion test centre, in Birmingham, where just 30.2 per cent of learner drivers got their licence.

Wolverhampton test centre in Spring Road conducted 8,354 tests over 2017-18 and 3,142 people passed, while in Wednesbury 7,683 tests took place and 2,844 people passed.

Gender difference

The data also shows a disparity between pass rates for men and women.

In Dudley 55.3 per cent per cent of men who attempted the practical test managed to pass, compared to 43.7 per cent of women.

In Wolverhampton 43.9 per cent of men gained their licence compared to 33.1 per cent of women, and it was a similar situation in Sandwell.

On December 4 last year the driving test was changed, with many observers saying the new test is tougher than the old one.

Learners now must navigate for 20 minutes using a sat-nav, and explain how to test the brakes, clean the windscreen and demist windows while driving.

However the new test does not seem to have bothered rookie drivers.

In April 2017, under the old test, the pass rate was 37.7 per cent - only slightly higher than in March 2018, with the new test.

Drivers taking the test can pass with up to 15 minors, such as not checking your mirror at the right time.

DVSA deputy chief driving examiner, Gordon Witherspoon, said: “DVSA's priority is to help everyone through a lifetime of safe driving.

"All candidates are assessed to the same level.

"We expect candidates and instructors to become more familiar with the new test and well continue to monitor it.”