Would you pass your driving test now? - pictures

<p class="p1">To celebrate the driving test’s 80th birthday, we wanted to <span class="s1">see if experienced motorists can still cut it under the spotlight.</span></p>

<p class="p1">Examiner Peter Rowland quizzes 52-year-old Tracey Smith with safety-related questions before heading out on the road. The <span class="s1">test route comprised a </span>dual carriageway as well as 50, 40 and 30mph zones</

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The driving test turned 80 this year, and since 1935, over 46 million drivers have taken their exam across the UK. Back then, the pass rate was 63 per cent – 16 per cent higher than it is today.&nbsp;</sp

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Debbie Wiseman has been with the IAM for two years, and has seven years of driver training experience. Peter Rowland has spent three years with the IAM, and has been a driving instructor for the past six

<p class="p1">Donna Bromyard - PASS</p> <p class="p1">Age 26, Hertford&nbsp;</p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">“I think it was my nerves that made me change gears so late; I usually drive in a higher gear,” Donna told us. Examin

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Colin Bradbury - FAIL</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Age 82, Ealing, West London</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">“I just wasn’t checking my mirrors enough on the test. Otherwise

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Tracey Smith - PASS</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Age 52, Borehamwood, Herts&nbsp;</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">“I was really nervous. It’s been about 30 years since

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Geoff&nbsp;Vincett - PASS</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Age 69, Kingsbury, London</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">“I used to a be a long-distance coach driver, doing t

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Ronald Shepherd - PASS</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Age 79, Codicote, Herts</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Ronald’s been a member of the IAM since 1988, and it clearly

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sid Shaikh - FAIL</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Age 48, Ware, Herts</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Sid has been told by his family that he drives too fast at times. And

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Elizabeth Lord - PASS</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Age 68, Cheshunt, Herts</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">“When I learned to drive, the cars only had three gears; now they ha

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Brian Lord - FAIL</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Age 69, Cheshunt, Herts</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">“I passed, but apparently I was driving in too low a gear,” Brian told u

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Indrani Choudhury - FAIL</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Age 67, Edgware, London&nbsp;</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">“Indrani didn’t fare very well on her test,” Debbie

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Adrian Keefe - FAIL</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Age 38, Hemel Hempstead, Herts</b></span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">“I was just driving a little too fast and went over the

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Martyn McCarthy - FAIL</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Age 59, Harpenden, Herts</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">“In 30 years of driving, you build an awful lot of bad habits, and

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sally McCarthy - FAIL</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Age 49, Harpenden, Herts</span></p> <p class="p2"><span class="s1">Sally failed because she stopped for a red light that wasn’t intend