Darlington

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Darlington MPTC, High Point Business Park, Yarm Road, Darlington

Darlington, DL1 4PW

Pass Rate
56.7%
Members
4

Test Statistics

Darlington is among the stronger places in the country to sit a practical test: 56.7% of candidates pass, against the national average of 48.6%. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 10.7% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Sunday between 08:00 and 09:00 do best, passing 66.2%.

Darlington driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
56.7%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
4,224
~19.6 per day
First Attempt Rate
47.6%
Avg 2.1 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.07
6.9% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.74
41.1% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.20
95.5% of tests have any

Common faults at Darlington

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation10.7%
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 signs9.7%
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).
Mirrors - change direction9.3%
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.
Response to road markings5.6%
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.
Move off - safely5.0%
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.
Response to traffic lights4.6%
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)3.3%
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.
Positioning - normal driving2.9%
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 - control2.7%
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.
Use of speed (too fast)2.4%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.54
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 - speed (too slow)0.46
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.
Mirrors - signalling0.41
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.
Progress - undue hesitation0.36
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 - control0.27
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.
Mirrors - change direction0.21
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 - observation0.20
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.
Awareness / planning0.19
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.
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.
Positioning - normal driving0.18
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Darlington

Emergency stopTested 32.6% of the time
Pass Rate
67.9%
Fail Rate
0.8%
Reverse bay parkTested 26.7% of the time
Pass Rate
51.0%
Fail Rate
7.4%
Parallel parkTested 24.5% of the time
Pass Rate
61.3%
Fail Rate
6.9%
Reverse rightTested 24.2% of the time
Pass Rate
58.1%
Fail Rate
5.9%
Forward bay parkTested 23.6% of the time
Pass Rate
59.5%
Fail Rate
2.4%

Best times to book at Darlington

Sunday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
81.8%
~0.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
67.9%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
66.2%
~2.4 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
63.3%
~2.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
62.4%
~1.1 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
60.5%
~1.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
60.5%
~3.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
59.7%
~2.8 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
59.5%
~1.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
59.4%
~3.2 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
58.3%
~9.6 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
57.9%
~4.9 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
57.1%
~2.3 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
57.0%
~2.6 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
56.8%
~17.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
56.5%
~22.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
55.9%
~2.3 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
55.6%
~2.1 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
54.3%
~1.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
52.9%
~0.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
52.9%
~5.8 tests/day
Saturday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
52.4%
~0.7 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
52.4%
~1.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
50.6%
~3.2 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
47.8%
~2.2 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
41.3%
~1.5 tests/day
Sunday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day

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