Shocking number of accidents involving students DURING their driving tests revealed

Being involved in a traffic accident is a harrowing experience. But imagine being involved in an accident during your driving test.

With stress levels already at their peak in hopes of passing, having an accident during the test would be a stressful scenario for anyone.

But this happens to learners more often than you might think: exclusive data shared with This is Money reveals that there have been almost 1,500 accidents during practical driving tests in the past four years.

The figures add fuel to the fire of those calling for the introduction of progressive driving licences (GDL) for newly qualified drivers in order to improve road safety standards.

Transport research and policy organisation the RAC Foundation has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency seeking the number of road traffic collisions that have occurred during driving tests annually between 2020 and 2023.

The data shows that during the four-year period, 1,488 accidents involving students occurred during practical exams.

Last year saw the highest number of driving test collisions in a calendar year, with 538 incidents reported in total.

In 16 percent (85) of these accidents, at least one person was injured.

Over that four-year period, 247 accidents involved someone being injured in crashes during driving tests, representing 17 percent of cases.

The DVSA figures do not provide information on fault, so it is unknown how many of the 1,488 collisions were the fault of the person with the provisional licence.

What we do know is that the figures would have been higher if the usual volume of driving tests had been carried out in 2020 and 2021.

The number of practical exams taken by students in the 2020-21 fiscal year fell to 436,044 due to lockdowns and closure of driving test centres as a result of the spread of Covid-19.

This represented a dramatic 72.7 per cent decrease on the previous 12 months, when 1,599,566 driving tests were conducted in 2019-20.

In an attempt to clear the huge backlog of students during the pandemic, the number of practical tests increased to 1,689,000 between March 2022 and 2023, a 10 percent increase year-on-year and around 6 percent on pre-Covid volumes.

Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation Steve Gooding said: ‘This is a stark and unpleasant reminder that life on the road can be unforgiving.

‘Of course, many of these accidents were probably not caused by the candidate, but by those who have already passed a test and think that has made them the perfect driver.

‘At whatever stage of our driving lives we find ourselves in, and whenever we are behind the wheel, we must remember our responsibilities.

‘However, young drivers who have just graduated are particularly vulnerable and are disproportionately involved in accidents. International evidence shows that a graduated licensing system could improve safety.

‘This could include a minimum apprenticeship period during which the novice gains vital experience and maturity.

‘As well as helping students prepare for life after they get their licence, it should improve driving test pass rates, which are below half, not only for first-time tests but for all retakes, and if pass rates increase, wait times to take a test will decrease.’

Should new drivers start with graduated licensing?

Several motoring organisations and road safety groups have reconfirmed their support for the introduction of graduated driving licences in recent weeks.

Among them is the AA, which has called on the new Labour government to tackle the number of teenage road deaths by limiting the number of fellow passengers in the first six months after passing the tests.

A GDL allows new drivers to go through learning and restriction stages, from driving in winter weather to limits on the number of passengers and driving at night, where supervision is required.

As new drivers progress through the stages, they gain more privileges until they are granted a full driver’s license after completing all requirements.

The RAC has also outlined its vision for a GDL system with similar conditions.

The probationary period would be two years and, according to current regulations, new drivers would have their licences revoked if they accumulate six points during the first 24 months.

Motoring organisations believe that a two-year GDL period would provide an adequate window for new drivers to gradually gain experience and reduce the risks surrounding inexperienced drivers.

Statistical evidence shows that the first 1,000 miles a young, inexperienced driver travels have the highest risk of being involved in a collision.

New Zealand is one of the countries where a similar system is already in use. In fact, a three-stage driving licence was introduced there in 1987 for all new drivers aged between 15 and 24.

Since the legislation was passed, there has been a 23 percent reduction in motor vehicle crash injuries among 15- to 19-year-olds, and a 12 percent reduction among 20- to 24-year-olds in the country.

AA President Edmund King OBE said: ‘One of the major issues that needs to be addressed is the unnecessary deaths of young drivers, their passengers and others caught up in these crashes.

‘Most people don’t realize until it’s too late that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and young adults ages five to 29, according to the World Health Organization.

“We owe it to the next generation to introduce positive measures that will help them live healthy and prosperous lives.”

Advanced drivers also believe in GDLs.

IAM RoadSmart policy and standards director Nicholas Lyes said: ‘Evidence from around the world shows that graduated driving licensing saves lives and reduces injuries where it has been introduced.

‘In 2022, more than 300 people in Britain lost their lives following a collision involving a young driver and more than 4,500 suffered serious injuries.

“These are shocking figures and the time has come to take urgent action to prevent further unnecessary deaths on our roads.”