Poole

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Poole, 4-20 Harwell Road, Nuffield Ind Estate, Poole

Poole, BH17 0SA

Pass Rate
48.6%
Members
4

Test Statistics

Poole passes 48.6% of candidates, in line with the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 31 tests a day — 6,684 in the period DVSA reports. The most common reason for failing is change direction when using mirrors, which costs 13.8% of candidates their test. Tests booked on weekdays between 08:00 and 09:00 do best, passing 52.4%.

Poole driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
48.6%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
6,684
~31.1 per day
First Attempt Rate
51.5%
Avg 1.9 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.11
10.2% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.85
48.3% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.58
97.9% of tests have any

Common faults at Poole

Most Common Fail Reasons

Mirrors - change direction13.8%
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 - observation13.0%
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 right4.8%
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.
Positioning - normal driving4.5%
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.
Use of speed (too fast)4.5%
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.
Control - steering4.3%
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 lights4.2%
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 signs3.5%
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).
Progress - speed (too slow)3.5%
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 - safely3.5%
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 - undue hesitation0.42
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.
Control - steering0.39
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)0.37
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 - safely0.37
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 - control0.28
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 - signalling0.28
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 - observation0.25
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.
Use of speed (too fast)0.25
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.
Mirrors - change direction0.24
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.
Positioning - normal driving0.19
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 Poole

Emergency stopTested 31.5% of the time
Pass Rate
60.8%
Fail Rate
0.5%
Reverse bay parkTested 25.5% of the time
Pass Rate
46.4%
Fail Rate
9.3%
Parallel parkTested 24.9% of the time
Pass Rate
47.6%
Fail Rate
15.1%
Forward bay parkTested 24.6% of the time
Pass Rate
52.0%
Fail Rate
3.2%
Reverse rightTested 24.2% of the time
Pass Rate
50.3%
Fail Rate
3.5%

Best times to book at Poole

Saturday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Saturday
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
55.0%
~0.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
52.4%
~5.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
50.7%
~5.9 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
49.9%
~6.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
49.3%
~1.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
48.9%
~4.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
48.8%
~42.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
48.5%
~5.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
47.2%
~5.9 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
46.7%
~1.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
46.5%
~1.1 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
46.4%
~0.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
44.7%
~5.7 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
44.0%
~6.5 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
42.9%
~0.9 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
40.0%
~1.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
30.6%
~0.2 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
25.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
24.1%
~0.9 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day

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