Horsforth
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Horsforth, Room 013 Woodside House 261 Low Lane, Leeds
Leeds, LS18 5NY
Pass Rate
50.0%
Members
3
Test Statistics
Horsforth passes 50% of candidates, in line with the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 27 tests a day — 5,767 in the period DVSA reports. No single fault dominates — the most common, change direction when using mirrors, accounts for 8.5%. Tests booked on a Saturday between 08:00 and 09:00 do best, passing 58.2%.
Horsforth driving test pass rate and statistics
Pass Rate
50.0%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
5,767
~26.8 per day
First Attempt Rate
47.4%
Avg 2.2 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.07
6.4% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.87
48.1% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.69
98.5% of tests have any
Common faults at Horsforth
Most Common Fail Reasons
Mirrors - change direction8.5%
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 - observation8.4%
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.
Move off - safely5.9%
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 lights5.1%
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.
Response to traffic signs4.3%
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).
Response to road markings4.3%
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.
Control - steering4.2%
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 driving4.1%
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.
Judgement - meeting3.7%
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)3.6%
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.
Most Common Minor Faults
Move off - safely0.50
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)0.41
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 - steering0.37
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 hesitation0.36
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.
Mirrors - signalling0.34
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 - control0.33
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 direction0.23
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.
Clearance / obstructions0.22
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.
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.
Signals - correctly0.18
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.
Manoeuvres tested at Horsforth
Emergency stopTested 36.9% of the time
Pass Rate
60.0%
Fail Rate
1.1%
Reverse rightTested 27.6% of the time
Pass Rate
51.6%
Fail Rate
7.7%
Parallel parkTested 27.2% of the time
Pass Rate
48.6%
Fail Rate
15.1%
Reverse bay parkTested 23.2% of the time
Pass Rate
50.4%
Fail Rate
11.1%
Forward bay parkTested 21.5% of the time
Pass Rate
50.4%
Fail Rate
5.3%
Best times to book at Horsforth
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
72.7%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
68.8%
~0.5 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
58.2%
~1.8 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
55.6%
~0.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
52.9%
~4.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
52.7%
~1.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
51.8%
~4.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
51.7%
~4.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
51.5%
~4.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
50.3%
~3.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
50.2%
~34.9 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
49.2%
~2.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
47.7%
~4.4 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
47.5%
~10.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
47.2%
~2.4 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
46.3%
~1.8 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
46.2%
~2.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
45.9%
~4.6 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
41.7%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
41.7%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
39.3%
~2.0 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
37.3%
~1.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
25.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
20.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day
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Centres you can move a Horsforth test to
DVSA only lets you swap to one of your three nearest test centres. These are the ones that qualify for Horsforth.