Learner drivers at this Lancashire test centre are the most likely to fail

A Lancashire driving test centre has been revealed as the location with the worst pass rate in the country.

According to official data, Rochdale test centre in Greater Manchester had the lowest number of successful candidates last year, with less than a third managing to gain a licence.

That is well below the national average and less than half the number who passed at the centres with the best record.

Across the UK in 2020 the average pass rate was 46 per cent but at the Rochdale centre a mere 31 per cent learners passed the test and obtained their licence.

In contrast, in Kendal - the centre with the best record - 63 per cent of student drivers were successful.

The driving test is the same wherever you sit it but the latest data, obtained by insurer Tempcover, suggests that geography plays a significant role in success, with pass rates far higher in rural areas than in urban locations.

It is thought that the lower pass rates in cities could be, at least in part, down to drivers having to deal with heavier traffic and more complex road systems, including one-way systems and complicated junctions.

The figures obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) show that Rochdale had the worst pass rate of any test centre, with just 31 per cent of its 6,969 candidates making the grade. Erith in London and Birmingham’s South Yardley both recorded pass rates of 32 per cent, just ahead of Liverpool Speke (33 per cent) and Kingstanding in Birmingham (34 per cent).

All 10 of the centres with the lowest pass rates were in large cities while test centres in smaller urban centres and rural areas dominated the opposite end of the table.

Behind Kendal, Peterhead test centre in Aberdeenshire recorded the second highest pass rate (62.5 per cent) ahead of Wellingborough (60.8 per cent), Yeovil (59.9 per cent) and Dorchester (59.5 per cent).

The research by Tempcover also looked at gender and age gaps when it came to pass rates, revealing that men were more likely to pass their test than women - 50 per cent compared with 43 per cent - and pass rates decline as candidates get older.

The youngest learners were found to be the most likely to succeed, with a pass rate of 58 per cent - well above the national average. From there, standards begin to slip, with three-quarters of all candidates over the age of 50 failing the test.

Tempcover CEO Alan Inskip said: “Our research clearly shows where and when you take your test plays a big part in passing and failing, with rural regions faring considerably better than their urban counterparts. But learners shouldn’t be put off just because of their location, as choosing the right day and time can improve your chances of passing wherever you take your test. While these statistics offer useful insights, the most important aspect of passing your practical is to thoroughly prepare.”

Peter Brabin, Head of Training at Bill Plant Driving School, said that while a fail was disappointing for the learners concerned, it should reassure other road users.

He commented: “It’s never good to be told you have failed your driving test, but when you consider that the average pass rate was 45.9 per cent between April 2019 and March 2020, it should also give some confidence that people aren’t just being passed for the sake of it to clear the backlog and that people really are expected to be both calm and confident behind the wheel. Safety must be the upmost priority - it always has been and always will be.”