Newslink September 2023

News
Look carefully: here’s the DVSA’s
top 10 L-test faults
DVSA’s Head of Driver Testing and Training
Policy, Amanda Lane, and Graham O’Brien,
Assistant Chief Driving Examiner, led a
webinar in August on the top 10 faults that
are recorded during L-tests.
At its peak the webinar had 590 ADIs
taking part, with lots of good discussion and
questions. Of those who watched it, more
than 96 per cent of those who filled in the
post-webinar survey recommend that you
watch it back.
If you missed it and want to watch it,
there’s a link at the end of this article.
The session opened with a review of why
analysing test faults is so important. As
Amanda and Graham pointed out, “It’s much
more than just being about passing the
driving test. Many of the commonly recorded
faults in driving tests are top contributory
factors in reported collisions. That’s why we
assess them as part of the test – to make
sure that learner drivers are ready for driving
safely independently.”
For example, drivers and riders failing to
look properly was a contributory factor in 35
per cent of all collisions in 2021 – and it was a
factor in 343 fatal collisions.
Perhaps, then, it is no surprise that the
number one reason for test failures is ‘Not
making effective observations at junctions’.
This fault includes:
n Failing to judge the speed of an
approaching vehicle
n Entering a roundabout with a vehicle
approaching from the right
n Making no effective observations at all
n Making no observations when joining a
dual carriageway from a slip road
n Going straight ahead at a crossroads
n Looking too late
n Repeatedly not looking left when turning
left.
The DVSA webinar stressed how
understanding the reasons for L-test failure
can help you assess if your pupils have the
skills, knowledge and understanding needed
to be safe when they’ve passed their test.
And perhaps most importantly, they give
you a great way of exploring factors with
your pupils that will increase risk in different
scenarios. Digging into your pupils’
understanding of risk can give you a better
sense of their thoughts, feelings and beliefs.
In at Number 9:Not
responding correctly
to road markings
The webinar looked at some ways that you
could go about this.
The top 10 reasons for L-test failure in full:
1. Not making effective observations at
junctions
2. Not using mirrors correctly when changing
direction
3. Not moving off safely
4. Incorrect positioning when turning right at
junctions
5. Not having proper control of the steering
6. Not responding appropriately to traffic
lights
Miss the webinar but want
to catch it now?
You can now watch the recording of the
webinar. It includes an explanation of
each of the top 10 faults, and a question
and answer session.
Find it at https://despatch.blog.gov.
uk/2023/08/31/helping-drivinginstructors-learn-about-the-topdriving-test-faults/
7. Not responding correctly to traffic signs
8. Poor positioning on the road during normal
driving
9. Not responding correctly to road markings
10. Not keeping control of the vehicle during
reverse parking.
As well as running through the Top 10,
Amanda and Graham looked at factors that
increase risk.
The way people think about driving and the
way they feel when they come to drive are
the ‘human factors’ in driver safety.
Six of the main human factors that can
affect driving performance are:
1. How your pupils process information -
how do their brains and eyes work while
they’re driving?
2. Your pupils’ ‘mental landscape’ - how do
their thoughts and feelings affect their
driving decisions?
3. Risk perception - how do your pupils
assess road risk and how is this affected by
their beliefs about what might happen?
4. Confidence - how do your pupils’ beliefs
in their ability and skills influence their driving
decisions and risk taking?
5. Personality - how do your pupils’
18 NEWSLINK n SEPTEMBER 2023