Upton

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Upton, Arrowe Park Rd, Upton

Upton, CH49 0UF

Pass Rate
48.4%
Members
4

Test Statistics

Upton passes 48.4% of candidates, in line with the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 25 tests a day — 5,474 in the period DVSA reports. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 10.1% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Saturday between 07:00 and 08:00 do best, passing 55.2%.

Upton driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
48.4%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
5,474
~25.5 per day
First Attempt Rate
45.2%
Avg 2.4 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.05
4.7% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.86
50.0% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.56
98.3% of tests have any

Common faults at Upton

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation10.1%
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.
Mirrors - change direction8.0%
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 right7.8%
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.
Response to traffic lights6.2%
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.
Move off - safely6.0%
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.
Use of speed (too fast)5.8%
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)4.3%
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.
Control - steering3.8%
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.
Judgement - meeting3.4%
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to slow down or adjust your position when approaching an oncoming vehicle on a narrow road.
  • Misjudging the speed of an oncoming vehicle and failing to allow sufficient space for it to pass safely.
  • Continuing towards other vehicles when they have priority.
Why More Common Here:
  • Narrow residential roads, particularly those lined with parked cars.
  • Residential roads with hills and bends, requiring faster reaction time.
Response to traffic signs3.3%
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).

Most Common Minor Faults

Progress - speed (too slow)0.53
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 - safely0.46
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 - undue hesitation0.40
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.
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 - control0.28
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.
Use of speed (too fast)0.23
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.
Junctions - observation0.21
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 - timed0.20
Common Scenarios:
  • Signalling too late for the signal to be effective.
Why More Common Here:
  • Unclear road markings and signs might lead to last minute rushed lane changes.
  • Hidden junctions on main roads.
Vehicle checks0.19
Common Scenarios:
  • Getting either the show me or tell me question wrong (one minor fault).
  • Losing control of the car when answering the show me question.

Manoeuvres tested at Upton

Emergency stopTested 31.2% of the time
Pass Rate
56.5%
Fail Rate
1.6%
Reverse rightTested 26.1% of the time
Pass Rate
48.7%
Fail Rate
6.2%
Reverse bay parkTested 25.3% of the time
Pass Rate
47.1%
Fail Rate
5.9%
Parallel parkTested 24.7% of the time
Pass Rate
50.1%
Fail Rate
10.9%
Forward bay parkTested 23.4% of the time
Pass Rate
48.6%
Fail Rate
4.5%

Best times to book at Upton

Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
75.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
64.7%
~0.6 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
56.3%
~0.5 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
55.2%
~3.1 tests/day
Sunday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
54.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
54.2%
~3.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
52.7%
~4.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
51.9%
~4.7 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
51.4%
~2.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
48.8%
~4.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
48.6%
~1.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
48.3%
~32.4 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
48.0%
~14.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
46.8%
~4.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
46.3%
~3.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
45.9%
~4.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
45.4%
~4.5 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
42.4%
~3.0 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
40.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
39.6%
~3.1 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
36.4%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
36.4%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
25.0%
~0.5 tests/day

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