Learners are failing their driving tests for similar reasons; here’s how to avoid them.

LEARNER drivers are failing their driving tests for the same two reasons, according to experts, who are urging motorists to be more cautious.

Most British people fail their exams for the same reasons, with hundreds of thousands failing in the last three years.

The top two mistakes made by learner drivers are failing to make effective observations at junctions and failing to properly check their mirrors when changing direction.

According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), 363,908 serious or dangerous faults were recorded during the tests of hapless motorists who failed to observe junctions correctly during their driving tests across Great Britain from January 2019 to December 2021.

During the same time period, 285,465 serious or dangerous faults were recorded against drivers who failed to properly check their mirrors before changing lanes.

The number of faults recorded in 2020 and 2021 is lower than in 2019, but experts believe this is due to cancelled pandemic tests.

According to a FOI request submitted by Avaris ebikes, 93,250 faults for failing to observe at junctions were recorded in 2021, compared to 79,698 in 2020 and 190,960 in 2019.

In 2021, there were 73,734 faults for failing to check mirrors while changing direction, compared to 63,512 in 2020 and 148,219 in 2019.

When it comes to junctions, the DVSA says candidates must make effective observations and ensure the road is safe before proceeding.

Drivers are expected to use the mirror, signal, and manoeuvre routine effectively, which includes carefully checking mirrors before signaling or changing direction or speed.