West Wickham (London)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre West Wickham, 56 Glebe Way, West Wickham

West Wickham, BR4 0RL

Pass Rate
48.3%
Members
4

Test Statistics

West Wickham (London) passes 48.3% of candidates, in line with the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 28 tests a day — 6,117 in the period DVSA reports. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 12.6% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Saturday between 07:00 and 08:00 do best, passing 63.6%.

West Wickham (London) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
48.3%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
6,117
~28.5 per day
First Attempt Rate
45.3%
Avg 2.2 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.03
3.0% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.92
50.9% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.38
98.4% of tests have any

Common faults at West Wickham (London)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation12.6%
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.
Control - steering6.9%
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.
Response to road markings5.5%
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.
Move off - safely4.8%
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 - change direction4.3%
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.
Positioning - normal driving4.3%
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.
Judgement - meeting3.8%
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)3.6%
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.
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.42
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)0.39
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 hesitation0.37
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 - steering0.35
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 - control0.34
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 - observation0.23
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 - signalling0.19
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.
Position - normal stops0.19
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.
Positioning - normal driving0.19
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.
Signals - correctly0.18
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 West Wickham (London)

Emergency stopTested 32.5% of the time
Pass Rate
57.9%
Fail Rate
1.2%
Reverse rightTested 28.4% of the time
Pass Rate
48.2%
Fail Rate
5.5%
Parallel parkTested 27.7% of the time
Pass Rate
47.2%
Fail Rate
13.7%
Reverse bay parkTested 21.9% of the time
Pass Rate
47.8%
Fail Rate
11.4%
Forward bay parkTested 21.5% of the time
Pass Rate
51.5%
Fail Rate
6.9%

Best times to book at West Wickham (London)

Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.6 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
63.6%
~2.1 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
61.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
61.1%
~0.6 tests/day
Sunday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~0.2 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
52.9%
~2.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
52.3%
~3.8 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
52.2%
~3.7 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
51.8%
~2.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
51.7%
~0.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
50.3%
~4.8 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
49.2%
~4.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
48.4%
~35.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
48.0%
~4.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
47.9%
~4.1 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
47.8%
~1.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
47.0%
~4.8 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
46.6%
~18.5 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
46.2%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
45.6%
~1.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
44.9%
~4.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
43.0%
~1.7 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
42.2%
~2.9 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
42.0%
~2.9 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
40.9%
~2.9 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
40.0%
~0.5 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
38.3%
~1.5 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
35.3%
~0.6 tests/day

Community Posts

Loading posts...

Centres you can move a West Wickham (London) test to

DVSA only lets you swap to one of your three nearest test centres. These are the ones that qualify for West Wickham (London).

Get browser tips, swap updates & news