The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that Britain's driving test pass rate has reached a five-year high. According to the agency, 51.4% of tests conducted in May were successful, up from 50.9% in the previous month and the best performance since May 2021 when the rate stood at 51.9%.
Increase in tests conducted
A total of 173,200 tests were carried out in May, a significant increase from 147,698 during the same month last year. The number of future tests booked also hit an all-time high of 674,165 at the end of May.
New booking rules introduced
Earlier this week, the Government implemented a strict ban on third-party driving test bookings, making it illegal for anyone other than the learner driver to book or manage a test. This measure is part of a crackdown on unofficial booking services, cancellation finder apps, and automated bots that have been snapping up limited test slots to resell at inflated prices.
Under the new rules, driving instructors and driving schools are also prohibited from booking tests on behalf of their students. Officials urge learners not to book a test until they are confident they will pass, as part of efforts to reduce the backlog.
Waiting times remain high
Freedom of information data from AA Driving School shows the average waiting time to book a test increased from 20.8 weeks in January to 22.4 weeks by April 6. In February 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic, the waiting time was just five weeks.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, commented: "Knowing there's a queue ahead for a practical test is frustrating for learners, but a pass rate hovering around 50% suggests many would still benefit from more practice and real world experience before taking a test which is the gateway to the freedom and responsibility of unaccompanied driving."
The DVSA has been approached for comment.
