Driving test pass rate in Rochdale lowest in nearly ten years

Less drivers are passing their tests in Rochdale than in previous years, new figures show.

Between April 2017 and March 2018, just 38.1% of learner drivers passed their practical driving tests, lower than the North West average of 47.2% and lower than the national average of 46.3%.

The pass rate of driving tests taken in Rochdale in the last year is the lowest since 2009/10, the lowest on record, when 37.3% of learners passed.

Men experienced a higher pass, with an average of 43% compared to just 34% of women passing between 2017 and 2018.

The highest pass rate in the borough was recorded in 2014/15, when 42.3% of drivers passed. In July 2014, 48.2% of learners passed – including 58.9% of men.

The highest pass rates overall were experienced in October 2017, with 40.6% passing their driving tests.

The lowest pass rate in the previous 10 years of data was recorded in January 2018 (33.6%), when just 27.6% of women passed their tests, as did 40.2% of men.

However, the lowest ever pass rate for men was just 35.1% recorded in December 2012.

Late-2017 saw the introduction of the sat nav and longer independent driving to the practical driving test, which could impact drivers’ chances of passing.

The introduction of a new manoeuvre, which requires students to pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse two car lengths and re-join the traffic, may just see more first-time fails, as the change receives backlash for breaching the Highway Code.

It remains to be seen how these changes will impact future pass rates.