Does no one fail the driving test these days?

[Arrrrrrragghhh]

Every single person I know this year and last has passed their tests. First time.
That would be unheard off back in the day. I know it’s anecdotal but so was hearing of kids having to retake.

Are computer games sharpening reflexes, driving instructors better or tests easier?

Golly, amongst my friends and I we have had children take 10 tests and not one pass!

I expect it’s more the case that it takes so fucking long to get a test that you’ve had far more practice by the time it rolls around. Plus because of the expense and wait, you’re less likely to give it a wee go and no harm no foul if you fail!

They've probably had to wait so long to take their test, that they've had more than enough practice.

But no, many of my DCs friends failed their tests, some more than once.

DS passed first time. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that he had such a long wait between his theory and actually getting a practical test that he’d had so many lessons!
Not that I think it was a bad thing actually - even though my bank balance might not agree!!

My lovely son has failed 3 times. So yes they do.
potentially as it is taking a long time to get a test people just have more driving experience?

My DD failed first time last year.

Nope.
It took my niece 4 or 5 attempts.
She passed just this July.

I passed first time back in the day , eldest took 2 tests , youngest took 3 .

And yet the standard of driving continues to fall. Maybe the test isn't hard enough.

My ds passed first time with 7 months of driving lessons aged 17.

Who says?

Someone I work with has failed at least twice this year.

I took my test this year and passed but had to wait ages for a test slot to be available so had more lessons than I probably would have otherwise. I do think it was slightly easier than the last time I took the test (over 10 years ago) as they’ve changed two of the manoeuvres to easier ones, but it’s not like those are guaranteed to be in your test - mine was parallel park!

The pass rate has gone down slightly since last year. It sits at just below 50% so more people fail than pass.

Failure rate is over 50% almost everywhere. You must know a lot of lucky people. My DD's friend has failed 3 times and is really disheartened.

Ah ok. Maybe it’s just a fluke. They took them over a few different test centres and are a range of ages. It just seemed so unlikely that I’ve not heard of any fails.

I guess more lessons might well be a factor.

Our kids passed first time, but they’re definitely in the minority amongst their mates.

Pass rate is 49% at my local test centre and with the kids friends a 50/50 split seems quite normal

Same in our house with DS passing first time and DD not - you must have an incredibly good local driving instructor OP!!

I passed first time with no minors! I was absolutely thrilled. I know a few people who have failed, some multiple times

3 of our DC were first time passes. One of them shouldn’t have been, given that he wrote his car off a week later.

The other one failed 3 times and gave up.

My dd has failed three times and waiting to take her fourth test after having a bit of a break.

Nope, my son passed 4th time - an excellent driver but nerves got the better of him. But my daughter and her boyfriend passed first time.

Of course they do.

My understanding is that more people fail their first test than pass it.

DS and his friends have all been sitting their tests this year - plenty of fails. Most of them have passed on their second attempt, a few passed first time but a few are sitting their third.

You don't hear about the fails because no one posts about failing their driving test on social media. My DS passed after 8 weeks of lessons his girlfriend took a year and 5 tests to pass. More people are taking automatic tests as well so that does make it slightly easier.

You can google thr pass rates for each test centre in the UK OP. It’s freely available online information and puts your anecdotal observations into perspective.