Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre (Cobridge), 8 Elder Road, Cobridge, Stoke On Trent

8 Elder Road, ST6 2HE

Pass Rate
40.2%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) is a demanding test centre: 40.2% of candidates pass, well short of the national average of 48.6%. One fault dominates: change direction when using mirrors ends 17.8% of tests here, a notably high share. Tests booked on weekdays between 14:00 and 15:00 do best, passing 45.6%.

Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
40.2%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
2,504
~11.6 per day
First Attempt Rate
46.1%
Avg 2.4 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.05
4.8% of tests have any
Serious Faults
1.12
59.0% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.15
99.0% of tests have any

Common faults at Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Mirrors - change direction17.8%
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 - turning right13.3%
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.
Junctions - observation10.9%
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 road markings7.4%
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.
Positioning - normal driving6.5%
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.
Response to traffic signs5.6%
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 traffic lights4.7%
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.
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.
Move off - control3.4%
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.
Control - steering3.1%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Progress - undue hesitation0.35
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 - steering0.33
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.
Move off - safely0.33
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 - control0.31
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)0.31
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.
Mirrors - change speed0.22
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.
Junctions - observation0.20
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.
Positioning - normal driving0.20
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.
Control - gears0.18
Common Scenarios:
  • Selecting a low gear at high speed, causing a sudden loss of speed and danger for vehicles behind.
  • Selecting a high gear at low speed, and possibly stalling.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes with numerous fast stretches of road, necessitating higher gears and more shifting.
Mirrors - change direction0.18
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge)

Reverse rightTested 31.3% of the time
Pass Rate
38.7%
Fail Rate
12.9%
Emergency stopTested 29.6% of the time
Pass Rate
44.6%
Fail Rate
1.9%
Reverse bay parkTested 23.2% of the time
Pass Rate
39.0%
Fail Rate
11.7%
Forward bay parkTested 22.5% of the time
Pass Rate
42.0%
Fail Rate
4.4%
Parallel parkTested 22.5% of the time
Pass Rate
42.5%
Fail Rate
15.6%

Best times to book at Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge)

Saturday
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
80.0%
~0.2 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
75.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Saturday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
53.8%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.2 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
47.1%
~0.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
45.6%
~2.1 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
43.8%
~1.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
43.7%
~1.7 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
43.5%
~0.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
40.8%
~4.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
40.2%
~15.0 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
39.8%
~5.9 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
38.1%
~0.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
37.6%
~2.1 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
37.0%
~1.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
35.8%
~4.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
34.8%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
30.4%
~0.7 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
28.6%
~0.7 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
12.5%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day

Community Posts

Loading posts...

Centres you can move a Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) test to

DVSA only lets you swap to one of your three nearest test centres. These are the ones that qualify for Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge).

Get browser tips, swap updates & news