Taking your driving test is a big moment – but while most learners are focused on roundabouts, manoeuvres and mirror checks, there’s another question worth asking: how safe are the roads around the UK’s test centres?
For many learners, the first and last five minutes of a driving test can be the most vulnerable, especially if they’re immediately navigating fast A-roads, complex junctions or city-centre traffic.
By mapping crashes within 0.5km of the UK’s busiest test sites, and weighting them by severity (slight, serious or fatal), we’ve created a national ranking of the safest and most dangerous places to take your test.
The results show a strong urban trend: test centres in cities with busy roads and complex layouts are consistently more dangerous, while those based in quieter, business park-style areas tend to be far safer.
The Most Dangerous Test Centres in the UK
Wood Green in North London tops the list of the most dangerous test centres. Over the past five years, 251 collisions were recorded within 0.5km of the test centre – including 12 serious incidents and one fatal.
This area of Haringey is particularly busy, home to a tube station, two cinemas and a major shopping centre – all generating high levels of traffic, footfall and congestion. For learners, it could be a challenging place to start or end a test.
The most dangerous test centres in the UK are as follows:
| Test Centre | Location / Local Authority | Total Collisions | Danger Score |
| Wood Green | Haringey, London | 251 | 100 |
| Luton | Luton | 155 | 93 |
| Dudley | Dudley | 103 | 82 |
| Sunderland | Sunderland | 79 | 79 |
| Norris Green | Liverpool | 78 | 78 |
| Mill Hill | Barnet, London | 72 | 75 |
| Gillingham | Medway | 58 | 72 |
| Hendon | Barnet, London | 61 | 72 |
| Goodmayes | Redbridge, London | 59 | 72 |
| Morden | Merton, London | 54 | 72 |
Five of the 10 most dangerous test centres are in Greater London: Mill Hill, Hendon, Goodmayes, Morden and, of course, Wood Green. Despite being spread across London, they share familiar challenges for learners: busy residential streets, frequent roundabouts and high pedestrian footfall.
Many of these test centres are positioned within 0.5km of fast-moving A-roads or complicated junctions, meaning that learners encounter them early-on in their tests. These environments demand quick decisions — and research from road safety charity Brake shows that hazard perception is one of the biggest challenges for young drivers.
Outside of London, there is still plenty of danger to be had. Luton ranks second overall, and first outside of the capital, with a danger score of 93. It recorded 124 slight and 31 serious collisions, the highest number of serious incidents in our data.
With a complex road network linking industrial and residential areas nearby, this area sees a constant flow of buses, taxis and delivery vehicles. Combined with fast-moving dual carriageways and large roundabouts, it could be an overwhelming site for learners
Over in the West Midlands, Dudley places third overall, with a danger score of 82 and 103 accidents within 0.5km of the test centre. A mixture of multi-lane roundabouts and busy commuting routes paints a daunting picture for learners, especially during rush hour.
Where Are Learners Safest at the Start of their Test?
At the other end of the scale, Farnborough and Norwich (Peachman Way) share the title of the UK’s safest test centres, each recording just one incident over five years.
Farnborough’s test centre is in a business park right next to the airport, far from any busy retail centres or residential streets. Likewise, Norwich (Peachman Way) sits within a business park setting just outside of the city centre. These business-heavy environments are typically slower-moving and clearly signposted, with wide lanes, structured junctions and lower pedestrian activity.
However, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t mean these roads are risk free – and neither are the test routes themselves.
The least dangerous test centres in the UK are as follows:
| Test Centre | Location / Local Authority | Total Collisions | Danger Score |
| Farnborough | Hampshire | 1 | 1 |
| Norwich (Peachman Way) | Norfolk | 1 | 1 |
| Gosforth | Newcastle upon Tyne | 2 | 9 |
| Birmingham (Garrets Green) | Birmingham | 5 | 23 |
| Cardiff (Llanishen) | Cardiff | 6 | 23 |
| Leicester (Cannock Street) | Leicester | 6 | 23 |
| Featherstone | Staffordshire | 6 | 23 |
| Warwick (Wedgenock House) | Warwickshire | 4 | 23 |
| Lee On The Solent | Hampshire | 5 | 26 |
| Preston | Lancashire | 6 | 26 |
| Bristol (Avonmouth) | Bristol | 6 | 26 |
| Birmingham (South Yardley) | Birmingham | 6 | 26 |
Most of these test centres are tucked away in low-traffic, non-residential zones like business parks and industrial estates. These locations share a clear advantage: simple road layouts, limited congestion and fewer distractions. These are ideal conditions for learner drivers, offering them a calmer start and finish to their test – reducing pressure and, as the data suggests, reducing crash risk.
Why the Right Test Environment Matters
To help make sense of the findings, we asked Patrick Fagan, motoring expert and Director, for his take on the growing gap between high and low risk test centres, and what it means for learners of all ages.
Patrick says: “The fact that some test centres recorded just one collision in five years, within a 0.5km radius, while others had more than 250, tells us something important. Not every learner is being tested in the same environment – and that matters.
“A driving test should assess your skill and judgement, rather than your ability to navigate rush hour. Where a test starts and ends can massively affect how a learner performs. A calmer environment can help them settle, show what they’ve learned, and stay safe while doing it”.
This disparity is more than a postcode lottery – it’s a question of fairness and safety.
Young Drivers Face The Highest Risks on the Road
Patrick says: “For young people, learning to drive is more than just getting from point A to point B. Instead, it’s a gateway to independence, job opportunities and social connection. But young people are also at greater risks on the road, especially in the first year after passing.
“Research from the Department for Transport shows that one in five newly qualified drivers have an accident within 12 months of passing their test. They also found that drivers aged 17–24 are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than those aged 25 and over.
“That makes the test centre environment even more important. It’s where learners start and finish their tests – the moments when nerves are highest and mistakes are most likely to happen.”
There is a growing push for a Graduated Driving Licence (GDL) system in the UK, which would introduce restrictions for newly qualified drivers.
Patrick explains: “Evidence shows that placing temporary restrictions on things like night‑time driving or carrying passengers can save at least 58 lives a year. It’s not about making things harder for young drivers – it’s about putting the right systems in place so that young drivers can build confidence and experience safely.”
Fairness Matters for Older Drivers Too
Young drivers aren’t the only ones under pressure – and there are regular discussions taking place about whether older drivers should need to be retested.
Patrick says: “We hear calls for drivers over 70 to be retested and that makes sense in principle – but the test experience still needs to be fair. Throwing someone into a complex city-centre route when they usually drive locally or rurally doesn’t reflect their actual risk.
“As we age, our habits change. Reaction times may slow, confidence can dip, and unfamiliar roads can become overwhelming – but it doesn’t mean that older drivers are unsafe. Instead, it means that we need to assess them properly, rather than punitively.
“The goal should be to support safe, independent driving for longer – not to set people up for failure. That means assessing people’s real-world ability, not just how they perform under artificial pressure.”
The Other Hurdle? Getting a Test Date
Long before they even worry about roundabouts or parallel parking, most learners face a different kind of challenge: actually, booking a test.
Patrick says: “Right now, over 600,000 people are in the queue for a practical driving test. In some areas, you’re waiting over 24 weeks – that’s six months just to get a date.
“We’ve heard from learners who’ve had to travel hundreds of miles to find an appointment, or spend money on cancellation apps just to get ahead. It’s stressful, expensive and unnecessary.
“The current backlog, caused by COVID delays, examiner shortages and record demand, has turned the driving test into a logistical nightmare.
“It used to be that nerves kicked in the night before the test. Now they start months earlier, when you’re trying to find one.”
Five Expert Tips to Help You Prepare Safely
Whether you’re a first-time learner or returning to the road later in life, here are five tips from Patrick to help improve safety and performance when it matters most:
1. Practice in different traffic conditions
Patrick suggests: “It’s important to gain experience on all kinds of roads, in all kinds of conditions – from quiet estates to multi-lane roundabouts during rush hour. The more variety you encounter, the more confident you’ll be on the roads if the unexpected happens.”
2. Don’t rush into your test date
Patrick says: “Passing on the first try is great, but not at the expense of your safety – or the safety of other people. Listen to your driving instructor: if they suggest waiting a little longer, they’re probably right.”
3. Choose your test centre carefully
Patrick says:“ Don’t just go with the nearest option. Look at pass rates and, where available, safety data. If you struggle with busy junctions or tight roads, you might benefit from a quieter location that still meets DVSA standards.”
Many learners are already doing this, not just for safety but to beat the backlog. Online forums are full of examples of people travelling further afield to find calmer routes and shorter waits.
One Reddit user shared: “Booked my Auto test at a test centre that is 40 minutes away. That area is on the list for the top five places for drivers to pass first time.”
4. Pick a sensible time
Patrick says: “If you can, try and book in for a test in the mid-morning, between 9am and 11am. This means that you’ll miss the school run and avoid lunchtime congestion.”
5. Build confidence gradually
Patrick says: “Nerves are normal, whether you’re 17 or 70. You can build confidence with consistency, by taking mock tests and remembering that you don’t have to be perfect – you just have to be safe.”
Once you’ve passed, the real journey begins – and for many drivers, that starts with sorting out how to access a car.
If you’re not ready to buy outright, or want to avoid the hassle of second-hand sales, car leasing can offer a straightforward and cost-effective way to get behind the wheel. It’s especially worth considering if you want fixed monthly payments and a newer, more reliable vehicle from the outset.
Not sure if it’s the right route for you? This guide to the pros and cons of leasing in 2025 breaks it down in plain terms – from upfront costs to what happens at the end of your agreement.
Methodology
We analysed the 55 busiest driving test centres in the UK, based on DVSA testing volumes, to better understand the risks learners may face in the immediate vicinity of their test route.
Using official road traffic collision data from the Department for Transport (DfT), accessed via CrashMap, we mapped all reported incidents that occurred within a 0.5km radius of each test centre between 2019 and 2023, the most recent five-year period available.
To reflect the seriousness of each incident, we applied a weighted scoring system based on DfT classifications:
- 1 point for a slight injury
- 2 points for a serious injury
- 3 points for a fatal collision
These scores were then totalled to produce a raw danger score for each centre. To enable direct comparison across locations, scores were normalised on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 assigned to the test centre with the highest recorded risk.
This analysis reflects the immediate environment surrounding each test centre, where learners are most likely to be at their most vulnerable, navigating real-world traffic within their first and final minutes behind the wheel.
All data sourced and analysed in June 2025.