Barnstaple

Unit 1A, Benning Court (Off Riverside Road), Pottington Industrial Estate, Barnstaple

Pottington Industrial Estate, EX31 1AB

Pass Rate
57.8%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Barnstaple is among the stronger places in the country to sit a practical test: 57.8% of candidates pass, against the national average of 48.6%. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 10.8% of candidates their test.

Barnstaple driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
57.8%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
2,094
~9.7 per day
First Attempt Rate
53.4%
Avg 1.8 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.07
6.8% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.64
39.1% of tests have any
Minor Faults
4.74
96.4% of tests have any

Common faults at Barnstaple

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation10.8%
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 - steering5.8%
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.
Mirrors - change direction4.7%
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to check mirrors when exiting a roundabout.
  • Failing to check mirrors when changing lanes.
Why More Common Here:
  • Complex multi-lane roundabouts and one-way systems.
Move off - control3.7%
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.
Awareness / planning3.6%
Common Scenarios:
  • Not anticipating the actions of other road users and reacting late to hazards or changes in traffic flow.
  • Waiting behind parked or broken down vehicles without attempting to overtake.
  • Being oblivious or inconsiderate to other drivers when merging in turn.
  • Not anticipating that pedestrians are about to cross, or walk upon the road.
Why More Common Here:
  • Busy or chaotic high streets and city centres.
  • High numbers of cyclists and/or confusing cycle infrastructure.
  • Semi- or fully-pedestrianised roads with pedestrians walking freely around.
Response to road markings3.5%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving in an incorrect lane that was clearly marked.
  • Ignoring lane arrows at junctions (e.g. left turn only).
  • Ignoring a give way line and assuming priority.
  • Stopping within a cycle box, not respecting advanced stop lines.
Why More Common Here:
  • Road markings worn away due to infrequent maintenance and/or heavy traffic.
  • Complex or confusing lane restrictions.
  • Road markings can be easily missed in slow moving traffic, especially when other road users may not follow them.
  • Give way lines draw in unusual places.
Response to traffic lights3.1%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving through a red light.
  • Driving through an amber light when you could have stopped safely.
  • Hesitating unnecessarily at a green light, impeding the flow of traffic.
  • Incorrectly stopping at a red light that is meant for other drivers.
  • Ignoring or misinterpreting a green arrow filter light.
  • Not waiting in the middle of a box junction when turning right.
Why More Common Here:
  • High traffic volume in the area can pressure learners to avoid stopping for amber lights.
  • Confusingly located traffic lights.
  • Traffic lights placed on fast sections of road where learners feel pressured to make good progress.
  • Traffic lights placed within roundabouts, where learners are too focused on lane position and observations.
Judgement - crossing2.5%
Common Scenarios:
  • Turning right across the path of an oncoming vehicle, failing to anticipate its speed.
Why More Common Here:
  • Certain right turns on fast roads with poor visibility, requiring expert judgement.
Positioning - normal driving2.4%
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.
Move off - safely2.2%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.50
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 - undue hesitation0.46
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.
Move off - control0.32
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)0.30
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.
Control - steering0.30
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.
Junctions - observation0.26
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 - gears0.24
Common Scenarios:
  • Selecting a low gear at high speed, causing a sudden loss of speed and danger for vehicles behind.
  • Selecting a high gear at low speed, and possibly stalling.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes with numerous fast stretches of road, necessitating higher gears and more shifting.
Mirrors - change direction0.16
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to check mirrors when exiting a roundabout.
  • Failing to check mirrors when changing lanes.
Why More Common Here:
  • Complex multi-lane roundabouts and one-way systems.
Positioning - normal driving0.16
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.
Use of speed (too fast)0.14
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Barnstaple

Emergency stopTested 37.3% of the time
Pass Rate
62.5%
Fail Rate
1.2%
Reverse bay parkTested 27.2% of the time
Pass Rate
56.1%
Fail Rate
5.4%
Reverse rightTested 25.0% of the time
Pass Rate
62.1%
Fail Rate
5.4%
Parallel parkTested 23.9% of the time
Pass Rate
57.7%
Fail Rate
10.6%
Forward bay parkTested 23.5% of the time
Pass Rate
56.1%
Fail Rate
4.7%

Best times to book at Barnstaple

Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
81.8%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
76.5%
~0.6 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
76.5%
~0.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
76.2%
~0.1 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
72.7%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
72.2%
~0.6 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
70.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
70.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
69.2%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
67.8%
~3.8 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.6 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
62.5%
~3.1 tests/day
Sunday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
61.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
60.5%
~1.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
60.1%
~1.7 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
58.6%
~1.6 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
58.3%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
56.9%
~12.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
56.8%
~1.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
56.7%
~1.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
56.7%
~1.1 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
54.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
53.8%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
52.8%
~1.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
50.6%
~1.7 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.6 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.4 tests/day

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