MORE than half of men — 52 per cent — pass their practical driving test out on the roads at the first attempt compared to 39 per cent of women, a new survey reveals.
While the results suggest you may have a 1 in 2 chance of passing your driving test first time, you can help increase your chances by reading our handy tips. And when you do pass, check out our top suggestions for the best cars for new drivers.
Most people pass within 2-3 attempts and, with the DVSA charging £23 for each test, your wallet will be rooting for you to pass in the fewest goes possible. But some people find the theory test very tricky and, as a result, have shelled out for several theory tests.
South Dakota has the easiest driving test of any state, followed by Ohio and New York, the study found.
In fact, a study by Siegfried & Jensen shows Washington is the hardest state in the nation to get a driver's license. The study's authors obtained information from each state DMV's official driver handbook and driver testing driving-tests.org and DMV.org.
The hardest part of passing a driving test isn't remembering to signal, doing head checks, or reverse parking. No, the hardest part is dealing with the nerves of driving a car while having your every move monitored by an examiner, and knowing that a few mistakes could cause you to fail your test.
That honour goes to an unnamed 42-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent who failed 36 driving tests before passing on his 37th go. There is currently no limit on the number of times you can take your test.
Pass mark. You'll pass your driving test if you make: no more than 15 driving faults (sometimes called 'minors') no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called 'majors')
Mirrabooka was the hardest centre to sit your practical exam, with a pass rate of just 30.9 per cent.
If you fail your driving test three times, you're required to take additional behind-the-wheel training or courses. Until you complete this extra training, the DMV won't allow you to retake the test. In some states, you may also have to reapply for a learner's permit before you go back to driving school.
Analysis of more than three million driving test results shows a Friday in March is the worst time to take your driving test. March has the highest number of failures and is the busiest month to take a driving test.
Late afternoon and evening driving tests
Evening tests in summer can be good, especially after 7pm, because of the quieter roads after rush hour. And many people feel naturally calmer at this time of day.
You will face many potentially dangerous obstacles during the test, so with a combination of anxiety, nerves and stress (all while you're sitting next to the examiner) it's certainly not easy for anyone. People fail for a multitude of reasons, and passing requires experience and practice, hard work and determination.
The Ballincollig test centre in Cork had a pass rate of 75% last year — the highest in the country. Carnmore in Galway was next highest, at nearly 68%. Three other centres had rates above 64%: one in Birr, Co Offaly; Clifden, Co Galway; and O'Loughlin Gaels in Kilkenny.
Best foods to have before your driving test
Fruit is an excellent source of fibre which causes the energy in food to be released into the body at a slower rate. Apples, bananas, oranges and strawberries are all high in fibre. Vegetables also contain fibre and will help to avoid energy crashes.
That suggests that most people find driving consistently to test standard difficult, but that it does become easier the more you work at it. Once you've got some mileage behind you, most people find that driving becomes almost second nature.
How long are driving lessons. Weekly driving lessons is the typical method that most learners choose for learning to drive. It usually takes around 30 to 40 hours to reach test standard. 2 x 1.5 hour lessons per week should allow you to reach test standard within around 2 to 3 months depending on your ability.
Texas, Nevada and Arizona best states for speedy drivers. States with lower average speed limits have a higher rate of speeding tickets. States with higher average speed limits have a lower rate of speeding tickets.