Half of drivers believe they would fail if they took their test again

It takes drivers just one year to forget the key practical skills and theory needed to pass their driving test, a new study by AA Driving School reveals. One in two drivers of any age confessed they were unlikely to pass the test again if they had to take it tomorrow, reinforcing the need for AA refresher courses particularly for those who have not driven for some time.

With 781,000 people passing their driving test each year, AA Driving School calculates that there are approximately 344,000 new drivers on the roads annually who are driving without the essential skills it took them to pass the test in the first place.
Manoeuvring the vehicle is the first skill to go with a third (32%) admitting they have forgotten how to carry out essential practical skills, while one in six (17%) confessed that their weakness was their lack of knowledge about the Highway Code.

The top five techniques drivers have forgotten are:

Parallel parking - 34%
Understanding road signs - 31%
Reverse parking - 28%
Clutch control - 24%
Checking mirrors and signalling - 20%

Older and wiser?

However, it is not just new drivers who admit their skills have deteriorated since they passed their driving test. Despite their superior road experience and safety record, the longer time elapsed since learning means many older drivers have also lost skills needed to pass the test.

Those who passed their test between 16 and 25 years ago rate themselves as least likely to pass their driving test with 56% admitting their skills are not up to scratch. The next least confident were those who passed their test between 26 and 50 years ago (55% said they would fail), followed by drivers who qualified between 11 and 15 years ago (54% thought they would fail).

Absence leads to forgetfulness

Offering some insight into why many have ‘forgotten how to drive', the study also found that nearly one in six British motorists have taken a break from driving for more than three years. While techniques like steering and clutch control are fairly intuitive, an extended absence from driving will undoubtedly see some of the more taxing manoeuvres get rusty while confidence also drops.

Asked to explain why they had taken a break, three out of ten (29%) responded that they had stopped driving as they moved into an area with excellent public transport. One in six (18%) answered that they had stopped driving as they no longer enjoyed it and are even scared to get back behind the wheel; a similar number (16%) however have simply deferred all driving responsibilities to their partner or spouse.

Edmund King, AA president, comments: "Having passed your driving test it is easy to forget the key skills that qualify you to be on the road in the first place. Drivers, young or old, often lose confidence if they don't drive frequently. Whether you're a university graduate who hasn't driven since passing the test at 17, or a widow whose partner did all the driving, a refresher course can reinforce essential skills and safety.

"While driving on a regular basis does help build experience, it can also become routine and essential skills can begin to slip. It's of the utmost importance to retain essential techniques and theory throughout your driving career. Thoughtful and considerate driving will always bring positive skills to the fore and keep bad habits at bay, ensuring the learning never stops."

AA Driving School offers refresher courses to drivers of all ages who want to brush up on their driving skills. For more information visit theAA.com