Carlisle LGV (Cars)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Carlisle, Kingstown Industrial Estate, Carlisle

Carlisle, CA3 0EH

Pass Rate
59.0%
Members
1

Test Statistics

Carlisle LGV (Cars) is among the stronger places in the country to sit a practical test: 59% of candidates pass, against the national average of 48.6%. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 11.5% of candidates their test. It draws mostly first-timers — 58.9% are sitting their first test — and the average candidate passes in 1.7 attempts. Tests booked on weekdays between 13:00 and 14:00 do best, passing 64.2%.

Carlisle LGV (Cars) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
59.0%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
2,130
~9.9 per day
First Attempt Rate
58.9%
Avg 1.7 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.02
1.6% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.69
40.4% of tests have any
Minor Faults
3.91
94.1% of tests have any

Common faults at Carlisle LGV (Cars)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation11.5%
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.
Junctions - turning right7.7%
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.
Mirrors - change direction5.2%
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 - safely4.1%
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 - steering3.6%
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 lights3.5%
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.
Positioning - normal driving3.4%
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 - control2.4%
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 - undue hesitation2.0%
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.
Judgement - crossing1.9%
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 - safely0.42
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.
Move off - control0.31
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.
Control - steering0.27
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 - undue hesitation0.20
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)0.19
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 - observation0.18
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.
Position - normal stops0.15
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.
Signals - correctly0.14
Common Scenarios:
  • Signalling left or right, but not turning.
  • Signalling right at a roundabout when you want to go ahead.
  • Signalling left at a roundabout when you are not intending to take the first exit.
  • Failing to cancel a signal after turning.
  • Flashing other road users to give way, contrary to the Highway Code.
Why More Common Here:
  • Main roads with many junctions and driveways with little space between them.
  • Roundabouts with more than four exits and/or confusing signs.
  • Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Mirrors - signalling0.14
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.
Mirrors - change direction0.12
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 Carlisle LGV (Cars)

Emergency stopTested 31.3% of the time
Pass Rate
63.5%
Fail Rate
0.5%
Reverse bay parkTested 28.2% of the time
Pass Rate
56.6%
Fail Rate
6.2%
Forward bay parkTested 24.8% of the time
Pass Rate
60.6%
Fail Rate
2.7%
Reverse rightTested 24.2% of the time
Pass Rate
65.1%
Fail Rate
5.8%
Parallel parkTested 21.8% of the time
Pass Rate
56.1%
Fail Rate
11.8%

Best times to book at Carlisle LGV (Cars)

Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
81.0%
~0.7 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
68.4%
~0.6 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
65.9%
~0.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
64.2%
~1.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
62.7%
~1.9 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
62.4%
~4.3 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~0.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
59.3%
~2.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
58.8%
~13.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
58.3%
~2.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
58.3%
~1.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
56.6%
~1.9 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
55.0%
~0.7 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
53.3%
~0.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
52.4%
~1.8 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.7 tests/day

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