Tolworth (London)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Tolworth, Douglas House, 1b Douglas Road, Tolworth

Tolworth, KT6 7RZ

Pass Rate
51.7%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Tolworth (London) passes 51.7% of candidates, a little above the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 29 tests a day — 6,268 in the period DVSA reports. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 13.4% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Sunday between 08:00 and 09:00 do best, passing 61.9%.

Tolworth (London) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
51.7%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
6,268
~29.2 per day
First Attempt Rate
51.6%
Avg 2.0 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.04
3.7% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.85
46.8% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.74
98.3% of tests have any

Common faults at Tolworth (London)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation13.4%
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.
Positioning - normal driving7.8%
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.
Mirrors - change direction5.3%
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)4.6%
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.
Move off - safely4.4%
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.
Control - steering3.7%
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.
Pedestrian crossing3.5%
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.
Response to traffic lights3.4%
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.
Junctions - turning right3.2%
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.
Judgement - crossing3.1%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Progress - speed (too slow)0.57
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 hesitation0.47
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.
Move off - safely0.38
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.
Control - steering0.31
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.
Junctions - observation0.30
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 - control0.22
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 speed0.21
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.
Positioning - normal driving0.21
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.
Awareness / planning0.19
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.
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Tolworth (London)

Emergency stopTested 32.9% of the time
Pass Rate
56.5%
Fail Rate
2.1%
Reverse rightTested 28.2% of the time
Pass Rate
47.9%
Fail Rate
5.5%
Parallel parkTested 26.9% of the time
Pass Rate
54.2%
Fail Rate
10.7%
Forward bay parkTested 22.3% of the time
Pass Rate
51.4%
Fail Rate
4.7%
Reverse bay parkTested 22.2% of the time
Pass Rate
55.0%
Fail Rate
7.6%

Best times to book at Tolworth (London)

Mon-Fri
17:00-18:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.2 tests/day
Saturday
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
75.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
72.4%
~0.9 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
65.4%
~0.8 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
63.6%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
63.6%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
63.6%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
61.9%
~3.4 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
56.0%
~0.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
55.6%
~2.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
54.2%
~0.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
53.6%
~4.9 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
53.4%
~13.3 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
52.5%
~1.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
52.3%
~1.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
51.9%
~4.8 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
51.6%
~7.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
51.6%
~36.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
51.5%
~7.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
51.3%
~5.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
50.6%
~1.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
50.5%
~4.6 tests/day
Saturday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.2 tests/day
Sunday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.7 tests/day
Sunday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
48.9%
~1.5 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
48.3%
~0.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
48.0%
~4.0 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
46.4%
~1.8 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
45.6%
~2.6 tests/day
Sunday
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
43.8%
~0.5 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
36.8%
~1.2 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
33.3%
~1.2 tests/day

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