Barra

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Barra Island, The Pier, Castlebay

The Pier, HS9 5XD

Pass Rate
88.2%
Members
3

Test Statistics

DVSA recorded only 17 practical tests at Barra in this period — too few to draw a meaningful pass rate from.

Barra driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
88.2%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
17
~0.1 per day
First Attempt Rate
82.4%
Avg 1.2 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.00
0.0% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.18
11.8% of tests have any
Minor Faults
3.47
94.1% of tests have any

Common faults at Barra

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - turning right5.9%
Common Scenarios:
  • Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions.
  • Not positioning to the right of the road when turning right.
  • Turning right at a roundabout using the incorrect lane.
  • Not using the waiting area in the middle of the road when waiting to turn right, therefore blocking traffic behind.
Why More Common Here:
  • Confusing road layouts, worn road markings and circuitous test routes involving waiting area for right turns.
  • Roundabouts with many exits making lane choice less obvious.
  • Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Use of speed (too fast)5.9%
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.
Move off - safely5.9%
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 - control0.53
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.
Junctions - observation0.53
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.
Junctions - approach speed0.35
Common Scenarios:
  • Approaching a junction too quickly, making it difficult to make observations and stop safely if necessary.
  • Braking harshly when needing to stop at give way lines.
Why More Common Here:
  • Roundabouts and other junctions that 'appear out of nowhere' on fast roads, possibly due to inadequate signage.
  • Sharp bends or steep inclines on approach to roundabouts.
  • Sharp exits off fast roads (e.g. t-junctions off dual carriageways).
Move off - safely0.29
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.
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.
Control - steering0.18
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.
Position - normal stops0.18
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.
Control - Footbrake0.18
Common Scenarios:
  • Pressing the footbrake too hard when unnecessary.
  • Pressing the footbrake too softly to slow down for a hazard.
Control - parking brake0.12
Common Scenarios:
  • Moving off with the handbrake engaged.
  • Using the handbrake when driving forward or turning.
Reverse bay park - control0.12
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to accurately park within the marked lines of the bay (it is okay to be crooked).
  • Inability to control the vehicle whilst reversing.
  • Touching or driving over curbs whilst performing the maneuvre.
  • Needing to reposition the car and reattempt the maneuvre multiple times.
Why More Common Here:
  • The most frequently used car parks are cramped or have an uneven surface.
  • Often this maneuvre will be done at the test centre. DTC car parks vary in quality.

Manoeuvres tested at Barra

Reverse bay parkTested 35.3% of the time
Pass Rate
100.0%
Fail Rate
0.0%
Forward bay parkTested 29.4% of the time
Pass Rate
100.0%
Fail Rate
0.0%
Reverse rightTested 29.4% of the time
Pass Rate
60.0%
Fail Rate
0.0%
Emergency stopTested 23.5% of the time
Pass Rate
100.0%
Fail Rate
0.0%
Parallel parkTested 5.9% of the time
Pass Rate
100.0%
Fail Rate
0.0%

Best times to book at Barra

Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
88.2%
~0.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
75.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
75.0%
~0.0 tests/day

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