Survey suggests half of all drivers would struggle to pass driving test again
I don’t know about anyone else, but I was gripped watching Channel 5’s Dangerous Drivers’ School, which took the meaning of car crash TV to a whole new level! I’ve just heard about an AA/Populus poll that coincided with the series and revealed that 50% of qualified drivers believe they might fail on at least one part of the current driving test.
Would you pass your test again?
To be honest I found this a bit worrying! Those with poor driving skills not only pose a potential threat to other road users but may also increase everyone else’s car insurance premiums.
According to the survey, the element that drivers were most likely to fail was parallel parking with 32% of women and 16% of men naming this manoeuvre as their most challenging. Speed, using mirrors, keeping a safe distance and reversing round a corner were other problem areas.
The survey showed some regional variation with only 16% of Londoners saying they might fail on parallel parking but a relatively high 4% believing they would struggle to keep a safe distance. A quarter of drivers from Eastern England, Yorkshire, Humberside and the East Midlands admitted that parking could be their downfall.
Drivers from Scotland and the West Midlands were more concerned about reversing round a corner with 9% citing this element. Welsh motorists were less worried at only 5%.
Age also seemed to affect the outcome of the poll. Only 1% of over-65s claimed that ‘use of mirrors’ might fail them at a retest, compared to 12% of 18-24 year olds.
Edmund King, director of the AA Charitable Trust, was alarmed by the results, insisting that “being able to manoeuvre correctly, making proper observations and keeping a safe distance and speed are all very important parts of driving safely.”
Describing driving as a “skill for life” he added that “drivers should make sure their skills are kept polished.”
The Channel 5 series of Dangerous Drivers’ School began on Thursday 31st January at 8pm.In the programme, a driving instructor from the AA Driving School is filmed coaching each participant in order to improve their driving. A variety of serious problems are addressed including motorway phobia, towing issues, extreme nervousness and over-confidence.
Among the drivers taking part in the current series are comedian Rowland Rivron, the actor Melvyn Hayes, Kate Walsh from The Apprentice and former MP and author, Edwina Currie.
