Three common reasons people fail their driving test in Sevenoaks

As a driving instructor in Sevenoaks, I keep in regular contact with the local test centre, and I've sat in on over 120 tests there. At a recent workshop for local instructors, the test centre manager highlighted three common reasons candidates fail their test here. In no particular order:

• Poor observations at junctions
• Not stopping correctly at STOP signs
• Not making appropriate progress on the dual carriageway

These were the areas highlighted at the workshop, not a published ranking. But they're exactly the skills I pay most attention to when preparing pupils for their test, so here's what goes wrong, and how to avoid it.

1. Poor observations at junctions

Looking is only useful if you gather enough information to make a safe decision. A quick glance at approaching traffic doesn't tell you whether it's safe to go. You need to judge where vehicles are, how fast they're coming and whether you have the time and space to pull out, and to watch for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, who are easier to miss.

Closed junctions need a different approach

Sevenoaks has a lot of what I call closed junctions, where buildings, hedges, parked cars or the layout of the road block your view. At an open junction, you can often assess the traffic well before you reach the line. At a closed junction, that early view simply isn't there.

In my experience, candidates used to wider, more open junctions elsewhere underestimate how much they need to adapt here. The principle is simple: your approach speed must suit what you can actually see. If your view is restricted, slow right down and be ready to stop. Where you need to, creep forward carefully to see more, without putting anyone else at risk. And never assume that because you can't see any traffic, there isn't any.

Roundabouts need repeated observation

The closely spaced mini-roundabouts in Riverhead are particularly demanding. There's a lot to take in, in a very small space: traffic from several directions, signals, positioning, and vehicles changing speed. It's easy to focus so hard on one car that you miss another. Learning to spot "blockers", vehicles that will hold up the traffic you'd otherwise give way to, makes a big difference, and it comes with practice.

On the roundabouts around Dunton Green and on the routes towards Sundridge, judging the speed of approaching traffic matters too: a car can look a long way off but reach you sooner than you expect.

So look early, then keep updating your observations as you approach and before you commit. Check the entry is clear, watch the traffic to your right and already on the roundabout, and look out for pedestrians and cyclists. And never treat another driver's signal as a promise of what they'll do (opens in a new tab).

Moving off needs the same care

Observations matter when you pull away from the side of the road, too. A mirror check alone can leave your blind spot unchecked. But looking round and then waiting several seconds before you move means the situation may have changed. The aim is a real check, just before you move, not a head movement for the examiner's benefit.

2. Not stopping at STOP signs

This one is simple: STOP means a complete stop. Slowing almost to a standstill, checking the road and carrying on is still a rolling stop, and it isn't enough, even if there's nothing coming.

Highway Code Rule 171 (opens in a new tab) says you must stop behind the line at a junction with a STOP sign and a solid white line, then wait for a safe gap. We meet STOP junctions on lessons around Sevenoaks, including around Gracious Lane and Hollybush, and learning to spot the signs and markings early gives you time to prepare.

Do you have to use the handbrake?

No. There's no rule that you must apply the handbrake just because you've stopped at a STOP sign. What matters is that you stop completely, keep the car under control, look properly, and only go when it's safe. The handbrake may be sensible on a slope or for a longer wait, but it isn't what makes the stop count. Counting to a set number of seconds doesn't help either: you need a complete stop, then a decision based on what's actually there.

If you still can't see after stopping at the line, creep forward carefully to see more. But you must stop at the line first.

STOP means stop, even when the road looks clear.

3. Not making progress on the A21

Driving slowly isn't automatically safer. Too low a speed causes real problems, especially when you're joining a road where traffic is moving much faster. But making progress doesn't mean accelerating whatever the conditions, or hitting a particular speed at any cost. It means choosing a safe, suitable speed and using opportunities confidently when they're there.

Joining from the slip road

The A21 slip roads vary a lot. Joining southbound from Morleys Roundabout is the easiest, which is why it's where I start. Joining southbound from Chipstead and Riverhead is much harder: the slip road has sharp bends and an uphill section, so you need the confidence to build your speed in a short distance.

In a manual, choose a gear that lets the car accelerate properly. In either car, look at the traffic early, pick out a likely gap, and adjust your speed as things develop. The aim is to join at a speed that matches the traffic, while giving way to vehicles already on the carriageway (opens in a new tab). Don't assume someone will move over to let you in, and don't accelerate towards a queue or an unsuitable gap. Respond to what's actually happening.

Making progress once you've joined

Once you're on the A21, look well ahead and keep to a speed that suits the conditions and the 70 mph limit. When conditions allow, I aim for pupils to hold around 65 mph. If you catch up with a slower vehicle, decide whether you can overtake safely: that needs good observations, enough space, and a check on traffic in the other lane. You don't have to overtake. If it isn't safe, stay behind at a safe distance, and don't close the gap because you feel you must show progress.

Leave at least a two-second gap in the dry, at least double that in the wet (opens in a new tab), and more when conditions call for it. The DVSA's guidance on test results lists unnecessarily slow driving and avoidable hesitation (opens in a new tab) as possible faults, depending on the circumstances.

How local preparation helps

Knowing Sevenoaks takes a lot of surprises out of test day. You'll recognise where your view is restricted, where a STOP junction is coming up and which slip road needs extra planning. That's exactly why I created my narrated Sevenoaks test routes: all 12 routes I've seen used most, with me talking you through what to look for at each junction, roundabout and slip road, plus turn-by-turn directions and sat nav files so you can practise them yourself.

If you'd like to see how examiners mark these situations, Real Sevenoaks Driving Tests talks you through real tests from my dashcam: what went well, and exactly where faults were given.

They're not a promise of the route your examiner will choose, and roadworks, parked cars and traffic can change a familiar road. The aim is judgement you can use anywhere. But seeing the roads before you drive them means far less is new on the day.

Frequently asked questions

Finally…

At junctions, give yourself time to see and assess properly. At STOP signs, stop completely and make a fresh decision before you go. On the A21, combine good observation with confident acceleration, sensible progress and plenty of space. These are the skills we build step by step in lessons, and they're a big part of why my learners had an 87% pass rate in 2026 (53 of 61 tests). Get them right, and you'll be ready not just for test day, but for driving on your own afterwards.