Bedford

Bedford Heights, Manton Lane, Bedford

Bedford, MK41 7BJ

Pass Rate
54.9%
Members
4

Test Statistics

Bedford passes 54.9% of candidates, a little above the national average of 48.6%. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 9.5% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Saturday between 13:00 and 14:00 do best, passing 71.4%.

Bedford driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
54.9%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
4,331
~20.1 per day
First Attempt Rate
53.8%
Avg 1.9 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.10
9.3% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.71
42.0% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.00
96.4% of tests have any

Common faults at Bedford

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation9.5%
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.
Response to traffic lights7.9%
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.
Mirrors - change direction6.6%
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 - safely5.4%
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 - steering4.9%
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)3.7%
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.
Clearance / obstructions3.6%
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.
Response to traffic signs3.2%
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).
Response to road markings2.8%
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.
Judgement - crossing2.7%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.45
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 hesitation0.42
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)0.38
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 - steering0.32
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 - signalling0.28
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.
Move off - control0.25
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 - observation0.23
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.
Mirrors - change speed0.19
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.
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.
Clearance / obstructions0.15
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Bedford

Emergency stopTested 35.7% of the time
Pass Rate
57.4%
Fail Rate
2.0%
Reverse rightTested 25.7% of the time
Pass Rate
55.4%
Fail Rate
5.8%
Parallel parkTested 25.6% of the time
Pass Rate
51.2%
Fail Rate
11.8%
Reverse bay parkTested 24.8% of the time
Pass Rate
54.4%
Fail Rate
5.7%
Forward bay parkTested 23.4% of the time
Pass Rate
60.0%
Fail Rate
3.5%

Best times to book at Bedford

Sunday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
85.7%
~0.5 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
71.4%
~1.1 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
69.2%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.5 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
64.3%
~0.5 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
60.4%
~3.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
60.2%
~3.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
60.2%
~0.7 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
58.3%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
56.3%
~3.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
56.2%
~2.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
55.3%
~3.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
55.1%
~25.4 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
54.5%
~1.1 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
53.8%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
53.7%
~3.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
53.7%
~3.6 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
52.4%
~0.7 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
51.1%
~1.5 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
51.1%
~1.5 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
50.9%
~10.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Saturday
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
48.1%
~3.5 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
46.8%
~1.5 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
46.2%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
45.8%
~1.6 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
42.9%
~1.6 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
40.0%
~0.5 tests/day
Saturday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
33.3%
~0.1 tests/day

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