Barnet (London)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Barnet, Raydean House, 15-17 Western Parade

15-17 Western Parade, EN5 1AD

Pass Rate
48.8%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Barnet (London) passes 48.8% of candidates, in line with the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 26 tests a day — 5,491 in the period DVSA reports. No single fault dominates — the most common, speed (too slow) at progress, accounts for 8.3%. Tests booked on a Saturday between 07:00 and 08:00 do best, passing 61.5%.

Barnet (London) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
48.8%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
5,491
~25.5 per day
First Attempt Rate
48.2%
Avg 2.2 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.02
1.6% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.91
50.9% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.50
98.1% of tests have any

Common faults at Barnet (London)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Progress - speed (too slow)8.3%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving significantly below the speed limit on a clear road without a valid reason (especially if it impacts drivers behind or causes them to overtake).
  • Being hesitant to build speed on a sliproad so as to merge safely.
  • Slowing down excessively for minor hazards, such as slight bends.
  • Losing speed due to improper gear selection on a hill.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads - learners may 'hedge' their bets by driving at 20 until they are sure the limit is 30.
  • Rural national speed limit roads.
  • Fast roads with hills and bends, requiring frequent gear changes to maintain progress.
  • Short sliproads necessitating confident acceleration.
Junctions - observation7.1%
Common Scenarios:
  • Emerging at a T-junction or roundabout and causing another vehicle to slow down.
  • Emerging from a junction without adequate observations (even if clear).
  • Sailing through a crossroads without stopping and looking.
  • Joining a dual carriageway via a sliproad without sufficient mirror and blind spot checks.
  • Turning right in front of oncoming traffic, causing them to slow down.
Why More Common Here:
  • Junctions onto busy roads with fast flowing traffic, small gaps and the requirement to build speed quickly to avoid slowing others behind.
  • Short, curvy or otherwise awkward sliproads onto dual carriageways.
  • Busy high streets and main roads with poor visibility and bikes overtaking.
Control - steering6.6%
Common Scenarios:
  • Steering too much, too little, too early or too late.
  • Mounting the curb when steering out of a junction.
  • Briefly driving on the wrong side of the road when turning through a junction.
Why More Common Here:
  • Tight junctions and narrow roads.
  • Sharp left or right turns on test routes.
Response to traffic signs5.4%
Common Scenarios:
  • Not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign.
  • Attempting to drive through a no-entry sign.
  • Attempting to drive through any other sign that restricts access (e.g. buses only).
  • Ignoring a give way sign and assuming priority.
  • Ignoring a keep left sign.
Why More Common Here:
  • Stop signs are rare in the UK, but may show up in this test centre area.
  • Confusing one-way systems.
  • Complex road signs restricting access (e.g. bus-only at certain times).
Move off - safely5.3%
Common Scenarios:
  • When parked on the road, moving off and causing oncoming traffic to brake or swerve.
  • Not checking mirrors and blindspots when moving off from a parked position.
  • Not completing all 360° observations when continuing after an emergency stop.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes involve stopping on busier roads.
  • Test routes involve stopping on bendy residential roads with restricted visibility.
Use of speed (too fast)4.8%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving above the posted speed limit.
  • Failing to reduce speed when approaching a hazard, such as a pedestrian crossing or a bend in the road.
  • Driving too fast on a road with potholes or poor surface condition (regardless of the posted speed limit).
  • Driving too fast on a national speed limit road (60 mph is often too dangerous).
  • Driving at a speed that is unsafe for the weather - rain, fog, or ice.
Why More Common Here:
  • Recently changed speed limits that conflict with old limits displayed on satnav.
  • Sudden speed limit changes, especially on exit sliproads.
  • Inadequate signage, road markings and traffic calming measures.
  • Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads.
  • 20 mph main roads where locals ignore the limit and overtake learners, causing pressure to keep pace.
  • Clearly signed 30/40/50/NSL roads that pressure learners to make progress despite potholes, bends, etc.
Clearance / obstructions4.7%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space.
  • Driving too close to parked vehicles or other fixed structures.
Why More Common Here:
  • Narrow roads with limited space for cars to give way to each other.
  • Awkwardly placed width restrictors.
  • High levels of traffic and/or bus routes on narrow roads.
Positioning - normal driving4.5%
Common Scenarios:
  • Not driving in the centre of the lane.
  • Driving for too long in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason.
  • 'Straight-lining' a roundabout.
  • Not driving in the bus lane when it is allowed at that time.
Why More Common Here:
  • Many timed bus lanes around test centre.
  • Multi-lane roundabouts with worn lane markings.
Pedestrian crossing4.1%
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to stop at a zebra crossing when pedestrians are waiting.
  • Stopping on the crossing itself, blocking its use by pedestrians.
  • Approaching a crossing too quickly.
  • Moving off before a pedestrian has completely cleared the crossing.
Why More Common Here:
  • Lots of zebra crossings and high foot traffic.
  • Crossings awkwardly placed immediately after roundabouts.
  • Crossings overly obscured by road furniture, requiring advanced observation skills.
Judgement - meeting3.7%
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to slow down or adjust your position when approaching an oncoming vehicle on a narrow road.
  • Misjudging the speed of an oncoming vehicle and failing to allow sufficient space for it to pass safely.
  • Continuing towards other vehicles when they have priority.
Why More Common Here:
  • Narrow residential roads, particularly those lined with parked cars.
  • Residential roads with hills and bends, requiring faster reaction time.

Most Common Minor Faults

Control - steering0.43
Common Scenarios:
  • Steering too much, too little, too early or too late.
  • Mounting the curb when steering out of a junction.
  • Briefly driving on the wrong side of the road when turning through a junction.
Why More Common Here:
  • Tight junctions and narrow roads.
  • Sharp left or right turns on test routes.
Move off - safely0.42
Common Scenarios:
  • When parked on the road, moving off and causing oncoming traffic to brake or swerve.
  • Not checking mirrors and blindspots when moving off from a parked position.
  • Not completing all 360° observations when continuing after an emergency stop.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes involve stopping on busier roads.
  • Test routes involve stopping on bendy residential roads with restricted visibility.
Progress - speed (too slow)0.39
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving significantly below the speed limit on a clear road without a valid reason (especially if it impacts drivers behind or causes them to overtake).
  • Being hesitant to build speed on a sliproad so as to merge safely.
  • Slowing down excessively for minor hazards, such as slight bends.
  • Losing speed due to improper gear selection on a hill.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads - learners may 'hedge' their bets by driving at 20 until they are sure the limit is 30.
  • Rural national speed limit roads.
  • Fast roads with hills and bends, requiring frequent gear changes to maintain progress.
  • Short sliproads necessitating confident acceleration.
Move off - control0.30
Common Scenarios:
  • Stalling from a parked position or in traffic.
  • Rolling back a considerable amount when moving off.
  • Attempting to move off when a gear is not selected.
Why More Common Here:
  • Hilly areas, especially around junctions.
  • Hilly roads with slow stop-start traffic, requiring consecutive hill starts.
Clearance / obstructions0.27
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space.
  • Driving too close to parked vehicles or other fixed structures.
Why More Common Here:
  • Narrow roads with limited space for cars to give way to each other.
  • Awkwardly placed width restrictors.
  • High levels of traffic and/or bus routes on narrow roads.
Mirrors - change speed0.22
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to check mirrors when slowing down.
  • Failing to check mirrors when speeding up, creating danger for anyone overtaking.
  • Accidentally slowing due to improper gear selection.
Why More Common Here:
  • Roads with harsh speed limit changes.
  • Fast hilly roads where learners may forget to downshift as needed, causing accidental slow-downs.
Positioning - normal driving0.22
Common Scenarios:
  • Not driving in the centre of the lane.
  • Driving for too long in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason.
  • 'Straight-lining' a roundabout.
  • Not driving in the bus lane when it is allowed at that time.
Why More Common Here:
  • Many timed bus lanes around test centre.
  • Multi-lane roundabouts with worn lane markings.
Progress - undue hesitation0.22
Common Scenarios:
  • Not emerging from a junction when it is safe to do so.
  • Waiting unnecessarily for another road user to pass who has clearly given way to you.
  • Failing to maintain momentum when joining a clear roundabout.
  • Ignoring shields and exit signals on mini-roundabouts and therefore missing many opportunities to proceed.
Why More Common Here:
  • Areas and times with fast, flowing traffic and non-obvious gaps.
  • Busy mini-roundabouts.
  • Test routes with stops along busy main roads.
Mirrors - signalling0.20
Common Scenarios:
  • Checking mirrors after or at the same time as signalling.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes that involve frequent or rushed lane changes.
Position - normal stops0.20
Common Scenarios:
  • Stopping in a location that obstructs a driveway, a junction, or a bus stop.
  • Parking with one or more wheels on the pavement.
  • Parking too far from the kerb.
Why More Common Here:
  • Inner city test areas with limited roadside parking.
  • Areas where residents habitually park on the pavement can trick learners into thinking it is acceptable.

Manoeuvres tested at Barnet (London)

Emergency stopTested 30.9% of the time
Pass Rate
55.7%
Fail Rate
2.2%
Reverse rightTested 26.9% of the time
Pass Rate
40.9%
Fail Rate
4.7%
Parallel parkTested 26.1% of the time
Pass Rate
53.1%
Fail Rate
7.8%
Reverse bay parkTested 24.1% of the time
Pass Rate
45.6%
Fail Rate
13.9%
Forward bay parkTested 22.8% of the time
Pass Rate
56.6%
Fail Rate
7.6%

Best times to book at Barnet (London)

Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
77.8%
~0.1 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
61.5%
~2.1 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~0.5 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
54.5%
~4.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
52.4%
~4.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
52.3%
~2.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
51.9%
~1.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
51.2%
~4.3 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
49.8%
~4.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
48.9%
~32.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
48.0%
~8.0 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
47.6%
~0.7 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
47.3%
~14.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
47.0%
~4.1 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
46.2%
~0.8 tests/day
Saturday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
41.2%
~0.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
40.7%
~1.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
38.5%
~2.1 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
37.2%
~2.5 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
36.0%
~2.4 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
23.5%
~0.6 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day

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