To the think the driving test is so hard for young people

[Sunnyday1203]

I learnt to drive over 30 years ago boy how things have changed. DS 18 has just failed his theory for the 3rd time, missing out by 2 points. Can't help thinking that that is has almost become yet another why for the Government to generate revenue. One of the questions was what is the speed of a mobility Scooter, whaf. He is great driver and really needs to pass so he can get to work, we live in a rural area with no public transport, so very frustrating

but not sure how questions about mobility scooters and trailers make you a better driver. because knowledge and awareness of other road users means you are less likely to cause/be involved in an accident with them.

I think it’s good that it’s hard tbh as I’ve seen posts on here and had conversations in real life where people do something like reverse from a parking space or pull from a side road onto the main road and are hit by a vehicle that has full right of way and have no clue that they are at fault.

For the theory, all the questions are available. The most sensible and obvious approach would be to make sure you know them all before sitting the test. It’s not like the mobility scooter question is a surprise.

I just did my theory at age 41 and I think it is now a much better test than it was when I did it years ago - more relevant to the complex roads people have to deal with today. I passed easily but I was drawing on years of experience as an adult passenger.

If your ds failed by 2 points then he got 8/50 wrong, so there will be a few areas of the test to brush up on. There is a package you can buy a month's access to www.dvsalearningzone.co.uk/ which I used and found very effective - lots of practice questions, a surprising number of which concern other road users such as scooters, trailers, etc!

I read the pass rate for theory is only about 45-50%, following changes last December. before that it was higher, so he's in good company!

The theory test is not hard. Our 5 did it on or a few days after their 17th birthday. I did buy them some books/a CD and they tested themselves a bit but it really was not hard to pass. I am sorry your son has failed 3 times. Most people find the driving test itself much harder than the theory part. I think you can get a few wrong and still pass.

I have just done the mock test online and got 46 out of 50, certainly wouldn’t class it as hard, or any of it as pointless!

I don’t drive here, haven’t checked the Highway Code for a loooooong time. I will get the app when I have the head space to do it.

I think that with both tests a lot of it is down to luck

Getting the 'right' questions on the theory and nothing going 'wrong' with the practical

I don’t drive here, haven’t checked the Highway Code for a loooooong time. I will get the app when I have the head space to do it.

Last update was June. 2018 .....

Depends i guess.

My DD1 passed the theory first time with some revision/practice but took 7 goes to pass the practical. She did not find that part easy at all.

DD2 passed the theory having only revised the day before and at age 17 and 6 months passed her test first time with no errors. She found it all very easy and is a very good driver.

Everyone is different and some find more difficult than others.

Anyone who is competent and studying and puts in a bit of effort can pass the theory. I know a lot of young people either can't or won't study effectively, a friend of mine repeatedly failed their theory, but I don't think the test should be dumbed down for that. Developing basic study skills is something young people and schools should do.

The practical I think is about right too. New driver accident rates certainly argue against making it easier.

Thanks for the updates on scooters - a while since I passed so had no idea. Will now update myself on Highway Code.

PS: What's hard for young people is bending over for the insurance companies after they've passed. And driving lessons aren't cheap either especially for those who can't do any practice outside of lessons (eg because parents don't drive).

I passed my test recently at the age of 44. The theory revision is so boring - you have to be really motivated to go over and over it on end before the test. But that's the trick of it really, to just know those questions inside out. There are tricks for learning stopping distances, apps that let you just practise on your phone whenever you get a spare minute and dvds for hazard perception. Honestly, it isn't hard but he just has to put the hours in.

In all honesty though, I think it is much better to be a safe driver in real life, than to know about towing trailers!

When DS did the theory test he just did a couple of practise tests. Out of interest and because I passed my test over 40 years ago I did it myself. I passed. Probably some luck involved but a lot of common sense.

In all honesty though, I think it is much better to be a safe driver in real life, than to know about towing trailers!

But knowing things like that is what makes someone a safe driver!

I've done the mock test and passed without a lot of revision. I've been driving for over 30 years. Anyone driving on the road currently should be able to pass it It should be hard, roads are dangerous places.

DD failed the theory first time, she just hadn't bothered to sit down and learn it. Second time DH went through every single of the ~963 possible questions with her. She passed.

The pass mark is 43/50. That means he got 9 questions out of 50 incorrect, not just one about mobility scooter speeds.

That's nearly a 20% fail rate. Should someone only pass 80% and still be allowed control of a deadly machine?

It's rather hard to fail the theory test if you hav prepared for it. Every question is available on line. I just tried the official online practice test for fun and scored 47 out of 50 in 15 minutes. Only one of my wrong answers was related to driving ability, the other two where on First Aid and the law on retesting if too many penalty points are incurred.

A driving test qualifies you to drive two tonnes of metal that can very easily kill people - it should be harder IMO, and there should be regular retests.
My daily commute is an 80 mile round trip. I'm by no means perfect but I see a lot of people who really have no business behind the wheel - so much so that I got a dash cam.

I think if you can’t drive for 40 minutes without making a serious error that could be dangerous you shouldn’t be on the road.

I've just done a mock test online. I've been driving 10 years and was curious because it's all changed even in a decade. I passed but used up all my allowed errors. Clearly this would be difficult to pass to an unqualified driver.

I just got 49/50 (mistook road humps for hump-backed bridge sign).

Personally I'd say a good 50% of the questions you should be able answer just via common sense (eg. when overtaking a horse you should:Honk your horn, wide berth but speed doesn't matter, , pass slowly and carefully).

If you can't pass that test, I really don't think you should be driving (and I learned over 20 years ago - around when the theory test came in actually - because I had to take it for my car license, but not my motorbike).

43/50 scraped through after 40 years of driving and no revision.

Clearly this would be difficult to pass to an unqualified driver

Which is why they are supposed to revise

My son's instructor told him to get his theory done as he was almost ready for his practical test. He went online that day was offered the following day or not for over a month.. He worked all day and half the night on practice tests and passed the following day! Passed his test 1st time a month later and has been driving well for 2 years now.