Being involved in a traffic accident is a stressful experience. But imagine having an accident during your driving test.
Since stress levels are already high in the hope of passing, crashing during the exam would be a stressful situation for anyone.
But it happens to students more often than you might think. Exclusive data shared with This is Money shows that almost 1,500 accidents have occurred during practical driving tests in the past four years.
The figures pose an additional challenge to those calling for the introduction of graduated driving licences (GDLs) for newly qualified drivers to improve road safety.
In the four years from 2020 to 2023, almost 1,500 students were involved in traffic accidents DURING their driving test
The RAC Foundation, a transport policy and research organisation, has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency asking for insight into the number of road traffic accidents that occurred during driving tests each year between 2020 and 2023.
The data shows that there were 1,488 accidents involving students during practical exams over the four-year period.
Last year saw the highest number of collisions during driving tests in a calendar year, with a total of 538 reported incidents.
In 16 percent (85) of these accidents at least one person was injured.
In the past four years, there have been 247 accidents in which someone was injured during a driving test, which is 17 percent of the cases.
The DVSA figures do not indicate who was to blame. It is therefore not known how many of the 1,488 collisions were the fault of the person holding the provisional licence.
What we do know is that the numbers would have been higher if the same number of driving tests had been taken in 2020 and 2021 as normal.
| Year | Number of accidents | Injuries sustained | No injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 538 | 85 | 453 |
| 2022 | 533 | 86 | 447 |
| 2021 | 307 | 63 | 244 |
| 2020 | 110 | 13 | 97 |
| TOTAL | 1,488 | 247 | 1,241 |
| Source: RAC Foundation following a FOI to the DVSA | |||
In 2023, the most crashes occurred during driving tests in all four calendar years, with a total of 538 reported incidents. In 16% (85) of these crashes, at least one person was injured
The number of practical tests taken by students in the 2020-2021 budget year fell to 436,044 due to lockdowns and closures of driving test centers as a result of the spread of Covid-19.
This was a dramatic drop of 72.7 per cent compared to the previous 12 months, with 1,599,566 driving tests taken in 2019-20.
To help clear the huge backlog of students that arose during the pandemic, the number of practical exams rose to 1,689,000 between March 2022 and 2023. That is an increase of 10 percent year-on-year and approximately 6 percent compared to pre-COVID volumes.
Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation Steve Gooding said: ‘This is a stark and unwelcome reminder that life on the road can be unforgiving.
‘Of course, many of these accidents are probably not caused by the candidate themselves, but by people who have already taken a test and think that this has made them the perfect driver.
‘Whatever stage of our driving we are in and whenever we are behind the wheel, we must keep our responsibilities in mind.
“But young drivers who have just graduated are particularly vulnerable and disproportionately involved in accidents. International evidence shows that a graduated licensing system can improve safety.
‘This could involve a minimal learning period during which the beginner gains essential experience and maturity.
‘Not only would it help prepare students for life after they get their license, it should also improve driving test pass rates, which are now below 50, not just the first time they take a test, but also every time they retake it. And as pass rates increase, waiting times for taking a test should decrease.’
DVSA accident figures during driving tests are fuelling calls for a tiered licensing system in the UK. Here’s how they’d do it – and how successful they’ve been in other countries where they’ve been introduced
Should new drivers start with a phased driving license?
A number of motorists and road safety groups have reiterated their support for the introduction of phased driving licences in recent weeks.
One of them is the AA, which has called on the new Labour government to tackle the number of teenage road deaths by limiting the number of passengers in the first six months after passing a driving test.
A GDL allows new drivers to progress through various stages of experience, learning and restriction, from driving in winter conditions to restrictions on passenger numbers and late night driving where supervision is required.
As new drivers progress through the stages, they are granted more privileges until, after meeting all the requirements, they are issued a full driving license.
The RAC has also set out its vision for a GDL system with similar conditions.
It would be a two-year trial period. In line with existing rules, new drivers will have their licences revoked if they get six points in the first 24 months.
Motoring organisations believe that a two-year GDL period would be a suitable period for novice drivers to gradually gain experience and reduce the risks faced by inexperienced drivers.
Statistical research shows that the first 1,000 miles driven by a young and inexperienced driver poses the greatest risk of a collision.
New Zealand is one of the countries where a similar scheme is already in use. In fact, a three-tier GDL was introduced there in 1987 for all new drivers aged 15 to 24.
Since the legislation came into effect, the number of traffic accidents with injuries among 15 to 19 year olds has decreased by 23 percent. Among 20 to 24 year olds, this is even 12 percent.
Edmund King OBE, Chairman of the AA, said: ‘One of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed is the unnecessary deaths of young drivers, their passengers and others involved in these types of accidents.
According to the World Health Organization, most people do not realize until it is too late that traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged five to 29.
“We owe it to the next generation to take positive steps that will ensure they live healthy and prosperous lives.”
Experienced executives also believe in GDLs.
Nicholas Lyes, Director of Policy and Standards at IAM RoadSmart, said: ‘Evidence from around the world shows that phased licensing saves lives and reduces injuries where it has been introduced.
‘In 2022, more than 300 people were killed in collisions involving young drivers in the UK and more than 4,500 were seriously injured.
‘These are shocking figures and it is high time that we take urgent action to prevent even more unnecessary road deaths.’
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