Most drivers would fail theory test if they had to take it again

MORE than half of drivers would fail a resit of their highways theory test, a survey suggests.

A poll of motorists found that 48 per cent could answer at least four out of five theory test questions correctly.

The survey of 2,000 motorists also revealed that just 12 per cent of drivers would be capable of passing their theory tests afresh with full marks.

The findings suggest that drivers’ knowledge of safety-critical road rules and regulations is lacking and comes as the number of UK road deaths falls 9 per cent in the 12 months to June 2023.

Connor Campbell, a spokesman for Independent Advisor Car Insurance, which commissioned the theory test poll, said its findings highlighted a concerning gap in road safety knowledge.

“With fixed penalty notices seeing a sharp rise since the Highway Code was last updated in 2022, it’s also crucial to regularly revisit the code to ensure you are up to date with the latest road laws.”

Administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the driving theory test has two parts: a multiple-choice exam whose pass mark is 86 per cent and a video hazard perception test where the pass mark is 59 per cent.

Two in three 17-to-24 year-olds struggled to answer at least four out of the selected five questions from the driving theory test correctly.

Government data suggests that male car drivers aged 17-24 are four times as likely to be killed or seriously injured than motorists aged 25 or over.

That finding came after the AA renewed its call for younger drivers to be subjected to tougher restrictions aimed at cutting the number of “needless” road deaths.

Around 14 per cent of male drivers got all five of the multiple-choice questions right, with women lagging behind at 9.2 per cent.

Londoners were the most likely to fail a theory test resit, with 64 per cent of those surveyed incorrectly answering four out of the five questions - and averaging just two correct responses.

Scottish motorists had the most accurate recall of the Highway Code, with 56 per cent answering correctly.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said the results showed graduated driving licences for young drivers was an increasingly important policy proposal.

He said: “The fact that so many qualified drivers struggle to answer basic questions on the rules of road shows that a form of graduated learning before taking their test and limits on same age passengers after the test, would help to save lives.”