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DVSA Guidance Explains '16th Fault' Benchmark in UK Driving Tests

Examiners apply a single question to judge if an observed slip merits being marked.

Overview

  • Candidates pass with no more than 15 driving faults and none classed as serious or dangerous.
  • The '16th fault' rule asks whether a lapse would justify failure if it were the 16th, guiding whether to record it or treat it as not-worthy.
  • DVSA definitions separate not-worthy deviations, driving faults, serious faults that are potentially dangerous or unlawful, and dangerous faults involving actual danger.
  • Single driving faults do not cause failure on their own, but repeated shortcomings can be judged potentially dangerous and affect the result.
  • Learners must pass the theory test before the practical, and successful candidates receive a pass certificate with the option to have the full licence posted by surrendering the provisional.