Britain Driving Test Pass Rate Reaches Five-Year High in May
The pass rate for driving tests conducted in May rose to 51.4 per cent, the highest level since May 2021. Officials have tightened booking rules to reduce backlogs and limit reselling of slots.
The IndependentBritain’s driving test pass rate reached 51.4 per cent in May, up from 50.9 per cent in April and the highest figure recorded since May 2021. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency conducted 173,200 tests during the month, an increase from 147,698 tests in the same period last year. At the same time, the number of future bookings stood at 674,165 by the end of May.
A regulation introduced on Tuesday limits learners to moving a test slot to one of the three nearest centres to the original booking. Officials said the change targets people who book distant slots with no intention of using them, either to resell for profit or to switch later to a more convenient location.
A separate rule that took effect on 12 May now requires tests to be booked and managed directly by learners rather than by driving instructors. Officials stated the measure is intended to reduce the use of automated booking programmes that acquire slots for resale.
Freedom of information data showed the average wait to book a test rose from 20.8 weeks in January to 22.4 weeks by 6 April. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the average wait in February 2020 was five weeks. A director at the RAC Foundation said a pass rate near 50 per cent indicates many candidates would benefit from additional practice before attempting the test.
