Every year the DVSA publishes data on the most common serious faults in driving tests. The same categories appear year after year — which means they're very much preventable with the right preparation.
1. Junctions — Observation
Failing to properly observe at junctions is the single most common reason for test failure. This includes emerging when it isn't safe, not looking effectively before pulling out, or misjudging the speed of approaching traffic.
Fix it: At every junction, make a habit of looking right, left, right again — and only emerging when you're certain it's safe. Hesitation is fine; rushing is not.
2. Mirrors — Change Direction
Examiners want to see you check your mirrors before every change of direction: turning, changing lanes, pulling out, pulling in. Not doing so — even if the manoeuvre itself is safe — will count against you.
Fix it: Build it into your routine automatically. Signal → Mirror → Manoeuvre becomes Mirror → Signal → Mirror → Manoeuvre at test standard.
3. Control — Steering
Poor steering — mounting the kerb, drifting across lane markings, or overcorrecting — is a consistent top-five failure reason. It's often down to nerves causing jerky inputs rather than genuine lack of skill.
Fix it: Look further ahead. Steering becomes smoother when your eyes are planning 10–12 seconds ahead rather than fixating on what's right in front of you.
4. Junctions — Turning Right
Right turns require you to judge gaps in oncoming traffic accurately. Candidates often either wait too long and frustrate following traffic, or go too early and cut across oncoming vehicles.
Fix it: Position correctly in good time, keep looking, and wait for a gap you're fully comfortable with. A hesitant right turn is better than a rushed one.
5. Move Away — Safely
Moving away from the side of the road — including after a manoeuvre — without adequate observation is a common fault. Candidates check their mirrors but forget their blind spot, or move off without checking that the road is clear.
Fix it: Every single time you move off from a stationary position, do a full scan: mirrors, over your right shoulder, then go when safe. Make it habitual.
The Common Thread
Notice that four of the five faults above are about observation and awareness, not vehicle control. The test is fundamentally about whether you're safe to drive independently — and safe driving is built on knowing what's happening around you at all times.