Dudley

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Dudley, Unit 2 Newton House, The Pensnett Estate,Kingswinford

The Pensnett Estate, DY6 7YE

Pass Rate
43.0%
Members
3

Test Statistics

Dudley passes 43% of candidates, below the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 31 tests a day — 6,718 in the period DVSA reports. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 12.3% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Saturday between 10:00 and 11:00 do best, passing 46.4%.

Dudley driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
43.0%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
6,718
~31.2 per day
First Attempt Rate
46.9%
Avg 2.2 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.03
3.3% of tests have any
Serious Faults
1.00
56.1% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.89
99.3% of tests have any

Common faults at Dudley

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation12.3%
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.
Control - steering7.8%
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)6.3%
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.
Move off - safely6.2%
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.
Judgement - meeting4.7%
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.
Move off - control4.2%
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.
Response to traffic lights4.0%
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.
Junctions - turning right3.9%
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.
Response to road markings3.5%
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.
Progress - undue hesitation3.1%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Progress - speed (too slow)0.49
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.
Move off - safely0.49
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 - steering0.48
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 hesitation0.47
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 - control0.32
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 - observation0.26
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 - signalling0.23
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 speed0.20
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.
Vehicle checks0.20
Common Scenarios:
  • Getting either the show me or tell me question wrong (one minor fault).
  • Losing control of the car when answering the show me question.
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Dudley

Emergency stopTested 30.6% of the time
Pass Rate
50.7%
Fail Rate
2.6%
Reverse bay parkTested 25.8% of the time
Pass Rate
39.4%
Fail Rate
14.0%
Reverse rightTested 25.2% of the time
Pass Rate
45.9%
Fail Rate
8.3%
Parallel parkTested 24.8% of the time
Pass Rate
45.6%
Fail Rate
17.1%
Forward bay parkTested 23.4% of the time
Pass Rate
42.4%
Fail Rate
9.0%

Best times to book at Dudley

Sunday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
62.5%
~0.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
52.6%
~0.1 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
46.4%
~1.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
44.8%
~5.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
44.5%
~5.6 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
44.4%
~0.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
44.2%
~5.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
43.3%
~6.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
43.2%
~41.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
43.1%
~4.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
42.1%
~1.9 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
41.7%
~2.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
41.6%
~6.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
41.3%
~5.5 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
40.6%
~10.5 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
37.1%
~1.1 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
35.7%
~4.2 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
33.3%
~0.1 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
30.9%
~1.8 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
28.6%
~0.2 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
26.3%
~0.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
22.2%
~0.1 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
20.0%
~0.2 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.2 tests/day

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