Common Driving Test Faults — How to Avoid Them

The Top 10 Test Faults

DVSA publishes annual data on the most common reasons for failing the driving test. Understanding these faults and actively practising to avoid them significantly increases your pass chances. Here are the top 10 faults and how DriveSQ addresses each one.

1. Junctions — Observation

This is consistently the number one reason for test failure. Failing to look properly at junctions — not checking both directions, pulling out when a vehicle is approaching, or not spotting cyclists and pedestrians. Fix: develop a systematic look-right-look-left-look-right routine at every junction. Make it a visible head movement so the examiner can see you are looking.

2. Mirrors — Not Checking Before Changing Direction

Forgetting to check mirrors before signalling, changing lane, slowing down, or turning. The examiner watches your mirror use constantly. Fix: build a mirror routine into every driving action — MSM (Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre) should become automatic. Check interior mirror, then relevant door mirror, before any change of direction or speed.

3. Steering — Control

Crossing hands inappropriately, jerky steering, or cutting corners at junctions. Fix: use the pull-push method for smooth steering. On turns, slow down enough that you can steer smoothly without rushing. When turning left, keep close to the kerb line; when turning right, position correctly without cutting the corner.

4. Turning Right — Cutting Corners

Approaching right turns too fast and cutting the corner into oncoming traffic's lane. This is a serious or dangerous fault. Fix: slow down fully before turning, position to the right of your lane, and follow the curve of the junction around — do not straighten early.

5. Moving Off — Safely

Not checking blind spots before moving off, or pulling out into traffic without checking mirrors. Fix: every time you move off, follow the POM routine — Prepare (clutch, gear, gas), Observe (all mirrors plus right blind spot), Move. Make the blind spot check a visible head turn.

More Common Faults

• Response to road signs and markings — missing speed limit changes, ignoring lane markings
• Positioning — driving too close to the kerb or too far right in your lane
• Inappropriate speed — driving too fast for conditions or too slowly and holding up traffic
• Reverse parking — poor accuracy, not checking surroundings, or mounting the kerb
• Following distance — driving too close to the vehicle in front

How DriveSQ Prevents These Faults

Our structured approach targets each fault area specifically. We use a progress checklist that tracks your performance across all test-relevant skills. Weak areas are identified early and receive focused practice. Mock tests use examiner-standard marking to simulate real test conditions. By the time you take your test, each of these common faults should feel impossible because the correct habit is deeply ingrained.

Frequently Asked Questions