New figures suggest that more learner drivers are failing their driving test first time and more are being taught by instructors who are unqualified.

The Department of Transport (DfT) says that the overall pass rate has declined from 70% in 2005/6 to 64% last year while figures from some examination centres show that just a third of their learners pass first time. Just 152 out of 340 test centres in England, Scotland and Wales recorded pass rates of 50% or more.

In addition the AA suggests that the number of people who failed after being taught by trainee instructors has jumped to 27,000 with many not realising that the person teaching them was not fully qualified. The AA has also put the average cost of a driving lesson at £24 and recommends that a learner has 44 lessons before taking a test, meaning that the cost of learning to drive exceeds £1,000.

Olive Baldock, training co-ordinator at the Driving Instructors Association, said: "As the recession has hit harder, more and more people have decided to save money and take lessons from parents and other relations. This is not always a good combination and can mean that people have to spend a lot more as they do not get the right training and end up having to take more tests and pay for more lessons."

http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/1708.html