New data questions mandatory re-tests for over 70s as young drivers top test failure list
Tue, 09 Jun 2026
How would you fare if asked to retake your driving test today? Not well, according to the results of a new study.
Almost two-thirds of UK drivers (61%) would fail their test if they retook it right now, as their knowledge of the Highway Code is no longer up to scratch.
With almost two million driving tests taken in the past 12 months, car insurance comparison firm Quotezone decided to put the knowledge of 1028 current drivers to the test and discovered that most would come a cropper.
Gen Z and Millennials most likely to fail
The worst offenders were drivers aged 18-34, with 82.5% falling below the pass standard. The oldest group in the study, aged 55-64, performed slightly better, with 72% likely to fail.
Experience counts, with drivers who had held their licence for 5 to 10 years having the highest proportion of incorrect answers at 82.8%, followed by those who have 1 to 5 years driving experience (81%).
Based on the survey, the safest were drivers who had held a licence for 40 to 60 years, recording the lowest error rate of 69.2%, followed by those who had been licensed for 30 to 40 years at 74.4%. Which brings into question the calls for older drivers to have mandatory re-tests.
Straying outside the lines
Survey participants were asked questions based on common situations motorists are likely to encounter on the road.
Rules when driving alongside a solid white line proved the most tricky, outfoxing 31.7% of respondents.
While 68.3% of participants knew of exceptions that allow you to cross a while line, like to pass a stationary vehicle or cyclist, nearly one in ten motorists admitted they would ignore solid white line rules.
Just under 10% of drivers said they would cross a solid white line to overtake a slower-moving vehicle, while 8.9% said they would cross the line whenever there was no visible oncoming traffic.
Safety precautions when driving in wet conditions also tripped up 31.4% of those who answered. Staggeringly, 20.5% said they would typically stay just one car length behind the vehicle ahead in the rain, which would be classed as a major fault in a driving test.
Mobile phone use trips up many
Using a phone on the go also tripped up many survey respondents, confirming how problematic mobile phone use behind the wheel is.
68.9% of respondents knew that using a mobile phone is allowed when calling the emergency services, and 19.3% were up to date with knowing that contactless payment at a drive-through is all good.
However, 11.9% of drivers thought it was okay to use a phone while waiting at traffic lights (4.1%), when driving slowly in traffic (2.5%), holding a device while checking directions (2.6%) and using a phone at any time provided it is not seen as distracting (2.7%).
