Do you think the UK driving license has gotten easier or more difficult since you had to get it?
We recently surveyed over 1,000 UK drivers and found that 22% don't think they would keep their license if they had to take the test again.
The number of unsure drivers was even higher when asked whether they thought they could pass the theory test.
Our research also found what qualified drivers think about how well the current test format prepares hopeful drivers for unsupervised driving, and found that almost a third of drivers would like to update the test procedure.
Respondents suggested that the practical test could be improved by having candidates drive in different weather conditions, adding a night driving section and setting a minimum number of lessons candidates must take before taking the test.
Drivers felt that the independent driving portion of the test should be modified to include a better mix of road types and traffic density.
We also asked drivers what other driving laws they would change and found that more than half of respondents would support a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol driving in their system.
Almost half (44%) support a tiered driver's license system for novice drivers, including mandatory P-plates in the first two years of driving, as well as a limit on the speed new drivers can drive and the type of roads they can use .
Respondents would like to impose similar restrictions on older drivers, with 42% voting to re-test drivers aged 80. However, 13% would prefer octogenarians to be banned entirely instead.
Check out the full list of questions and answers from our driving survey below.
How many attempts did it take you to pass your driving theory test?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
N/A - I obtained my driver's license before July 1996 |
390 |
37.75% |
|
1 |
507 |
49.08% |
|
2 |
82 |
7.94% |
|
3 |
35 |
3.39% |
|
4 |
10 |
0.97% |
|
5 |
5 |
0.48% |
|
6 |
0 |
0.00% |
|
7 |
1 |
0.10% |
|
I can not remember |
3 |
0.29% |
How many attempts did it take you to pass your practical driving test?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
1 |
520 |
50% |
|
2 |
288 |
28% |
|
3 |
127 |
12% |
|
4 |
42 |
4% |
|
5 |
18 |
2% |
|
6 |
10 |
1% |
|
7 |
2 |
0% |
|
8+ |
2 |
0% |
|
I can not remember |
24 |
2% |
When did you pass your driving test?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
Before 1951 |
6 |
1% |
|
1951 - 1960 |
61 |
6% |
|
1961 - 1970 |
145 |
14% |
|
1971 - 1980 |
190 |
18% |
|
1981 - 1990 |
237 |
23% |
|
1991 - 2000 |
228 |
22% |
|
2001 - 2010 |
160 |
fifteen% |
|
2011 - 2019 |
6 |
1% |
How many hours of driving experience do you estimate you had before passing your driving test? (In hours)
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
0 |
1 |
0% |
|
1 - 10 |
41 |
4% |
|
11 - 20 |
151 |
fifteen% |
|
21 - 30 |
196 |
19% |
|
31 - 40 |
202 |
20% |
|
41 - 50 |
139 |
13% |
|
51 - 60 |
84 |
8th% |
|
61 - 70 |
40 |
4% |
|
71 - 80 |
28 |
3% |
|
81+ |
71 |
7% |
|
Not sure |
80 |
8th% |
Have you ever been blamed for a traffic accident?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
No |
874 |
85% |
|
Yes |
159 |
fifteen% |
How confident are you that the current driving test and practical driving test in the UK prepares drivers for unaided driving?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
Very confident |
89 |
9% |
|
Pretty confident |
504 |
49% |
|
Not very confident |
265 |
26% |
|
Not at all confident |
59 |
6% |
|
Not sure |
116 |
11% |
How confident are you that the theory test prepares drivers for driving unaided?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
Not at all confident |
60 |
6% |
|
Very confident |
77 |
7% |
|
Pretty confident |
510 |
49% |
|
Not very confident |
286 |
28% |
|
Not at all confident |
60 |
6% |
|
Not sure |
100 |
10% |
How confident are you that the General Driving section prepares drivers for unaided driving?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
Very confident |
106 |
10% |
|
Pretty confident |
595 |
58% |
|
Not very confident |
234 |
23% |
|
Not at all confident |
42 |
4% |
|
Not sure |
56 |
5% |
How confident are you that the reverse section prepares drivers for unassisted driving?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
Very confident |
160 |
fifteen% |
|
Pretty confident |
578 |
56% |
|
Not very confident |
197 |
19% |
|
Not at all confident |
44 |
4% |
|
Not sure |
54 |
5% |
How confident are you that the independent driving section prepares drivers for unaided driving?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
Very confident |
156 |
fifteen% |
|
Pretty confident |
596 |
58% |
|
Not very confident |
168 |
16% |
|
Not at all confident |
38 |
4% |
|
Not sure |
75 |
7% |
How confident are you that you would pass if you had to repeat your practical test today?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
Very confident |
228 |
22% |
|
Pretty confident |
552 |
53% |
|
Not very confident |
179 |
17% |
|
Not at all confident |
44 |
4% |
|
Not sure |
30 |
3% |
How confident are you that you would pass if you had to repeat the theory test today?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
Very confident |
228 |
22% |
|
Pretty confident |
432 |
42% |
|
Not very confident |
225 |
22% |
|
Not at all confident |
66 |
6% |
|
Not sure |
82 |
8th% |
Which of the following proposed driving law changes would you support?
|
Answer |
To count |
% |
|
Zero tolerance for any alcohol in your system while driving |
569 |
55% |
|
Mandatory "P" license plate - required up to two years after passing the exam |
447 |
43% |
|
Getting people over 80 to retake their driving test |
412 |
40% |
|
Getting people over 70 to retake their driving test |
369 |
36% |
|
Getting people over 90 to retake their driving test |
364 |
35% |
|
Restrict drivers with less than six months of experience to driving at speeds over 60 mph |
352 |
34% |
|
Prohibit eating, drinking or smoking while driving |
313 |
30% |
|
Ban drivers with less than six months' experience from road traffic at certain times, e.g. B. late at night |
296 |
29% |
|
In order to pass the driving test, the learner drivers must prove their suitability for winter driving |
268 |
26% |
|
Ban drivers with less than six months' experience from driving on the Autobahn |
244 |
24% |
|
Learners must demonstrate driving skills on various road surfaces to pass the driving test |
240 |
23% |
|
Prohibit people over the age of 90 from driving |
221 |
21% |
|
Learners must demonstrate driving skills when using a navigation device |
220 |
21% |
|
Prohibit people over 80 from driving |
131 |
13% |
|
Enforce 24/7 daytime running lights |
123 |
12% |
|
When using a navigation device, you must demonstrate map reading skills |
118 |
11% |
|
Higher alcohol limits |
97 |
9% |
|
Abolish driving theory test |
51 |
5% |
|
Prohibit people over 70 from driving |
34 |
3% |