Driving tests 'more difficult in London'

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A new survey of official Driving Standards Agency test centres shows a massive range of pass rates, with some centres passing three out of four learners, while at others three out of four learner-drivers fail.

The survey by motoring magazine Auto Express found that drivers taking their tests in London are the most likely to fail, while new drivers in Scotland are the most likely to pass.

Five of the 10 UK test centres most likely to fail candidates are based in London, new figures for April 2007 to March show. Eight in 10 of the UK's driving test centres with the highest pass rate are based in Scotland.

The one with the highest percentage of passes is based in Gairlock, in the Highlands, where the pass rate is 70.6 per cent, compared to Barking where just 30.4 per cent pass.

The test centre with the lowest pass rate of all is at Heaton in Bradford where only 27.1 per cent of candidates pass, followed by the Kings Heath centre in Birmingham where the pass rate is just 30.1 per cent. A spokesman for the DSA said the variation was due to some drivers being more prepared for their test than others. He said: "The wealthier the area, the more money budding motorists have to spend on lessons." He said that L-test examiners were trained to ensure test consistency across the country.

However, Julie Sinclair, of Auto Express, said: "A more convincing explanation for these results is that learners in rural areas get off lightly with lower levels of traffic."