Birmingham (South Yardley)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre (South Yardley), Clay Lane, South Yardley

Clay Lane, B26 1EA

Pass Rate
40.9%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Birmingham (South Yardley) passes 40.9% of candidates, below the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 27 tests a day — 5,899 in the period DVSA reports. The most common reason for failing is change direction when using mirrors, which costs 11.7% of candidates their test.

Birmingham (South Yardley) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
40.9%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
5,899
~27.4 per day
First Attempt Rate
43.1%
Avg 2.4 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.12
10.4% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.94
55.3% of tests have any
Minor Faults
6.33
98.8% of tests have any

Common faults at Birmingham (South Yardley)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Mirrors - change direction11.7%
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.
Junctions - observation10.3%
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 - turning right7.2%
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.
Response to traffic signs6.3%
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).
Clearance / obstructions6.1%
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.
Control - steering6.0%
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.
Judgement - meeting5.8%
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)4.4%
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.
Pedestrian crossing4.2%
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.
Move off - safely3.8%
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

Progress - speed (too slow)0.74
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.
Progress - undue hesitation0.55
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 - safely0.38
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 - steering0.38
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 speed0.28
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.
Move off - control0.27
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 / obstructions0.26
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 - signalling0.24
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.
Junctions - observation0.24
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 direction0.22
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Birmingham (South Yardley)

Reverse bay parkTested 26.2% of the time
Pass Rate
38.1%
Fail Rate
10.1%
Reverse rightTested 25.6% of the time
Pass Rate
34.9%
Fail Rate
5.4%
Emergency stopTested 25.5% of the time
Pass Rate
50.7%
Fail Rate
0.9%
Parallel parkTested 24.3% of the time
Pass Rate
47.5%
Fail Rate
8.9%
Forward bay parkTested 23.4% of the time
Pass Rate
44.8%
Fail Rate
6.1%

Best times to book at Birmingham (South Yardley)

Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
80.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
77.8%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
75.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
54.7%
~2.1 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
52.0%
~0.8 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
46.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
43.9%
~4.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
43.7%
~5.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
43.6%
~5.1 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
43.5%
~0.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
41.5%
~5.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
41.0%
~4.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
40.7%
~4.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
40.7%
~37.2 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
40.0%
~0.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
39.3%
~5.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
38.5%
~5.2 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
37.5%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
32.0%
~0.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
31.9%
~2.2 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
30.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
22.2%
~0.3 tests/day

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