Three quarters of drivers would fail their test if forced to take it again today, according to a new study.
Among a group of 50 experienced motorists who were asked to sit a mock driving test, just 12 passed while the remainder committed an average of three major faults and 16 minors.
In the worst case a participant recorded 10 majors – actions which put the examiner, public or property at risk – while another made 42 minor infringements.
In an official test a single major offence would cause the candidate to fail instantly, while anyone committing more than 15 minors would also be unsuccessful.
Faults by the drivers, who received no special training before taking the test, included driving at 40mph in a 30mph zone and failing to see the curb during a three-point turn.
One driver even forced a pedestrian to retreat back onto the pavement from the road because they had failed to check their blind spot.
Among the most common failings were speeding, failure to check mirrors, poor observation when reverse parking, and using the wrong gear, with one driver receiving 14 points for gear misuse alone.
The tests, conducted by RED Driving School, were unofficial and failure did not affect the participants’ driving licenses.
Previous studies have suggested that new technology such as sat navs, parking sensors and blind spot monitors could be making drivers more complacent at the wheel, with a previous study finding that people who use sat navs while driving take their eyes off the road for 22 per cent of their journey.
Another survey of 4,000 drivers found that more than two thirds use at least one automatic driving aid, with 48 per cent using a sat nav.
Rob Miles of Direct Line, which commissioned the study, said: “Driving aids are becoming increasingly common and when used correctly, can result in a safer, more comfortable driving experience. However, it’s important that drivers don’t rely too heavily on these aids, as it can be to the detriment of both their overall ability and concentration on the road ahead.”
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