Top 3 reasons new drivers fail their license test

By Lawrence Minnie

Taking your driver’s test is a nerve-wracking experience. We take a look at why many drivers fail on their first try, and what you can do to make sure you pass yours.

Testing, Testing 1-2-3

Going for your driver’s test is, without a doubt, one of the most stressful things you will do as an adult. A leading driving school’s website states that approximately 40% of test takers will fail on their first attempt, due to a number of reasons. A poll of those who failed revealed three major factors that led to a fail.

Nervousness

This has been cited as the number one reason new drivers fail the test. Doing the test is nerve wracking, and during the test new drivers make mistakes that they normally wouldn’t, such as forgetting certain parts of the pre-trip inspection, forgetting about mirror checks, stalling the vehicle, or knocking over a demarcating pole.

The easiest way to deal with this is to practice, be prepared, and just relax. Trust that you have it in the bag, and be systematic and pedantic with each step.

Unpreparedness

Booking your test and then showing up to take it without preparing suitably will most likely result in a fail. We weren’t able to find any hard and fast rules regarding the amount of training required to take the driver’s test, but a general rule would be at least five lessons with a reputable driving school.

Don’t let the driving school force you into taking the test if you don’t feel you are ready. Take as many lessons as you feel you will need to be fully prepared and relaxed, and only then take the test.

Over-confidence

As bad as being unprepared, being over confident can lead to one too many mistakes, resulting in a fail. This usually comes from an individual who has been driving for a while without a license, who then brings a number of bad driving habits into the test.

Over confidence often leads to carelessness, while a roll back on the incline start, or a tap of a demarcating pole, will spell the end of the test.

The best advice we can offer is to prepare sufficiently, know the test forwards and backwards, and be systematic by taking it step by step. This will give you the confidence to tackle the test. Finally, practice, practice, and practice, until you can parallel park with your eyes closed.