St Helens (Liverpool)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre St Helens MPTC, 1 Navigation Road, off Pocket Nook Street, St Helens

St Helens, WA9 1NS

Pass Rate
39.8%
Members
3

Test Statistics

St Helens (Liverpool) is a demanding test centre: 39.8% of candidates pass, well short of the national average of 48.6%. One fault dominates: change direction when using mirrors ends 17.6% of tests here, a notably high share. Tests booked on a Saturday between 08:00 and 09:00 do best, passing 46.3%.

St Helens (Liverpool) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
39.8%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
5,084
~23.6 per day
First Attempt Rate
42.1%
Avg 2.3 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.07
6.2% of tests have any
Serious Faults
1.15
58.9% of tests have any
Minor Faults
6.22
99.2% of tests have any

Common faults at St Helens (Liverpool)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Mirrors - change direction17.6%
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 - observation17.2%
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.
Junctions - turning right8.2%
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 - 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.
Response to road markings6.0%
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.
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.
Clearance / obstructions4.8%
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.
Control - steering4.4%
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 driving4.4%
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 - control4.1%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.62
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)0.47
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.
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 - steering0.37
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.
Clearance / obstructions0.34
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.
Mirrors - signalling0.31
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 - control0.31
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 - observation0.25
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.
Signals - necessary0.22
Common Scenarios:
  • Not signalling when pulling away from the kerb.
  • Not signalling when pulling up at the side of the road.
  • Not signalling when turning left or right at a junction.
  • Not signalling when changing lanes or overtaking.
  • Not signalling when joining or exiting a dual carriageway.
Why More Common Here:
  • Complex road layouts with frequent lane changes may overwhelm some learners.
  • Unclear road markings and signs might lead to last minute rushed lane changes.
Signals - correctly0.21
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 St Helens (Liverpool)

Emergency stopTested 31.5% of the time
Pass Rate
43.2%
Fail Rate
1.0%
Reverse bay parkTested 26.1% of the time
Pass Rate
37.7%
Fail Rate
6.8%
Reverse rightTested 24.9% of the time
Pass Rate
46.0%
Fail Rate
6.4%
Parallel parkTested 23.8% of the time
Pass Rate
37.2%
Fail Rate
19.6%
Forward bay parkTested 23.8% of the time
Pass Rate
40.4%
Fail Rate
3.4%

Best times to book at St Helens (Liverpool)

Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
48.1%
~0.9 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
46.3%
~1.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
43.2%
~4.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
42.9%
~0.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
42.5%
~4.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
41.7%
~4.1 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
40.0%
~1.3 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
40.0%
~1.3 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
40.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
39.9%
~31.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
39.7%
~3.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
39.1%
~4.3 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
38.6%
~8.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
37.6%
~4.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
37.0%
~2.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
37.0%
~4.1 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
32.4%
~1.2 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
29.6%
~0.9 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
29.6%
~0.9 tests/day

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