Just 18 out of 2,000 people managed to answer correctly on five multiple-choice driving theory test questions conducted by online car-changing marketplace Carwow. The questions were derived from the official DVSA driving theory test, and the results were quite staggering, with only approximately 0.9% of participants getting all questions right.
Among the questions, one of the trickiest turned out to be about overtaking on a one-way street, where only 10% of respondents knew it could be done on either the right or left side. Another challenging question involved the typical braking distance from 50mph in good, dry conditions, with just 27% answering correctly that it is 125 feet or 38 metres.
Interestingly, the question that received the most correct answers was about the direction to walk in case of a breakdown on a motorway to find the nearest emergency telephone, with 46% choosing the right answer of ‘in the direction of the marker posts’. These findings reflect the decreasing pass rate for theory tests over the past 15 years, dropping from 65% in 2009 to just 45% this year, as per the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Carwow’s data also revealed that experience seems to be a significant factor in passing the theory test, with 75% of drivers who have been driving for 12 to 20 years passing on their first attempt, compared to only 56% of those driving for one to three years and 17% for those driving less than a year. The importance of continuous learning and practice for drivers, even after obtaining a licence, was emphasised by Carwow’s chief content officer Mat Watson.
The survey by Carwow also highlighted that drivers aged between 25 and 35 were more likely to rate themselves as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ drivers, with men generally rating their driving ability higher than women. The results serve as a reminder for all drivers to brush up on their road knowledge and skills to ensure road safety and confidence behind the wheel.