Sale (Manchester)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Sale, 36-38 Poplar Grove, Sale

Sale, M33 7ER

Pass Rate
49.9%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Sale (Manchester) passes 49.9% of candidates, in line with the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 28 tests a day — 5,988 in the period DVSA reports. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 9.2% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Saturday between 13:00 and 14:00 do best, passing 57.7%.

Sale (Manchester) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
49.9%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
5,988
~27.9 per day
First Attempt Rate
50.0%
Avg 2.1 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.09
7.9% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.68
46.5% of tests have any
Minor Faults
3.99
96.1% of tests have any

Common faults at Sale (Manchester)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation9.2%
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 lights7.4%
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 road markings6.4%
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.
Mirrors - change direction5.4%
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 traffic signs4.5%
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).
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.
Junctions - turning right3.1%
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.
Move off - control3.0%
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.
Judgement - crossing2.8%
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.
Pedestrian crossing2.4%
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to stop at a zebra crossing when pedestrians are waiting.
  • Stopping on the crossing itself, blocking its use by pedestrians.
  • Approaching a crossing too quickly.
  • Moving off before a pedestrian has completely cleared the crossing.
Why More Common Here:
  • Lots of zebra crossings and high foot traffic.
  • Crossings awkwardly placed immediately after roundabouts.
  • Crossings overly obscured by road furniture, requiring advanced observation skills.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.39
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.
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)0.33
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 - control0.29
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 hesitation0.21
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 - steering0.18
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.
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.
Clearance / obstructions0.17
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.
Awareness / planning0.15
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.
Mirrors - change speed0.12
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Sale (Manchester)

Emergency stopTested 34.0% of the time
Pass Rate
59.7%
Fail Rate
0.5%
Reverse rightTested 26.1% of the time
Pass Rate
46.6%
Fail Rate
4.5%
Parallel parkTested 25.3% of the time
Pass Rate
52.1%
Fail Rate
11.6%
Forward bay parkTested 24.2% of the time
Pass Rate
49.8%
Fail Rate
4.7%
Reverse bay parkTested 24.1% of the time
Pass Rate
51.5%
Fail Rate
10.1%

Best times to book at Sale (Manchester)

Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
77.8%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
57.7%
~1.7 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
55.6%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
55.6%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
55.6%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
54.5%
~1.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
53.7%
~5.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
53.1%
~5.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
52.9%
~5.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
52.1%
~1.1 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
51.0%
~12.6 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
50.9%
~1.7 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
50.9%
~1.9 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
50.8%
~2.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
50.4%
~5.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
49.8%
~36.1 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
49.1%
~1.9 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
49.1%
~1.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
47.4%
~4.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
45.9%
~5.3 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
45.6%
~1.9 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
44.4%
~0.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
42.7%
~4.0 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
33.3%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
33.3%
~0.3 tests/day

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