It's now been over two years since the driving test got it's largest shake-up in over 20 years, but what do we know about the current driving test? Have they made it more difficult and are fewer people passing?
For over 80 years, passing a driving test has been a rite of passage for most young people on the path to freedom, independence and better job prospects. But while the principle has stayed the same, the test has repeatedly adapted to the changing times, changing roads and more traffic.
Three-point-turns and reversing around a corner and were removed from the practical test a couple of years ago now, while competently driving whilst using a sat-nav and a longer test duration were introduced instead.
Drivers who passed their driving test over 25 years ago will simply remember driving around for 30 minutes, reversing around a corner, doing a three point turn and passing, no theory test existed until it was brought in on 1st July 1996.. This theory test replaced the couple of random Highway Code questions your examiner asked you before commencing with your practical test.
Many older people who passed their driving test before 1996 claim they probably would not pass their driving test now, this may very well be true but it's not down the test being harder it's down to 25 years of picking up bad driving habits and complacency on the road.
Drivers nowadays know nothing else and accept that there is a theory test and that there are now additional skill required and more in depth, longer driving lessons. However pass rates have remained steady over the years and many people are still passing first time, however this does depend on the driving school and instructor.
There are good and bad driving instructor so make sure you research yours.
All driving instructors whether self employed or working for major nationwide driving school will of course have passed their ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) test but simply passing this test does not make someone a good driving instructor as additional skills are needed like patience and the ability to actually teach in a way that the information sticks.
Is it easier to pass your driving in quieter areas?
According the statistic yes, and London appears to be the worst place to take your driving test, with half of the city's test centres among the lowest pass rates in the whole of the country. Birmingham test centre also have lower pass rates compared to the rest on the country.
However, Greater Manchester is also a large, busy area but pass rates across the region are much higher than pass rates in London and Birmingham which is down to people choosing the right test centre for them as its always better to drive around a familiar area.
People living in West Manchester in towns such as Leigh, Bolton and Atherton generally take their test in Atherton a relatively quiet town even though its only 15 miles from the centre of Manchester.
In East Manchester, Aston-Under-Lyne, Denton etc there is a choice of a couple of test centres in Hyde and Cheetham Hill depending on the area you are most familiar with and a popular test centre for people living in Bury, Rochdale, Prestwich and Middleton is the Bury test centre.
So in summary, the test is not harder and you can still pass your driving test first time if you choose the correct driving instructor, we recommend Adams Driver Training a Tyldesley driving instructor for anyone from West Manchester and for the test centre we recommend Atherton because it has the quietest roads. Good Luck