Drivers in one South London neighbourhood have blamed “terrible” roads and endless roundabouts after their town was named the hardest place to pass a driving test in the UK.

Data from the DVLA show that people taking their driving test in Erith have more  chance of failing on their first attempt than anywhere else in the country.

Neighbouring Belvedere, also in Bexley, comes in as the second worst area, according to 2022 data.

Only 30 per cent of drivers at Erith’s test centre and 34 per cent at Belvedere’s test centre pass their driving test on their first attempt.

This Is Local London: Only three in 10 people who test at this driving centre pass on the first attempt, according to 2022 figures (photo: Kiro Evans)Only three in 10 people who test at this driving centre pass on the first attempt, according to 2022 figures (photo: Kiro Evans)

Drivers outside the Riverside Shopping centre in Erith told the Local Democracy Reporting Service why they thought that might be.

Alex Gera, 41, who has failed the driving test three times, and twice in Erith, blamed faint road markings for one of his test failures.

He said: “I think its one of the most difficult test routes in England.

"I think there’s lots of roundabouts which makes it hard.

This Is Local London: Shoppers in Erith put forward their theories as to why so many failed their tests in this part of London (photo: Kiro Evans)Shoppers in Erith put forward their theories as to why so many failed their tests in this part of London (photo: Kiro Evans)

"There’s also road marking which I couldn’t see – they need to paint it again.”

Alex added that his fourth test – which he’s planning to take in Wolverhampton – was coming up soon.

Amanda Stedman passed her driving test the first time in Belvedere 30 years ago, and also believed there was there are “a lot of roundabouts” in the area, but added that the roads were generally “pretty normal”.

Rita Hanfrey, 74, who passed her test the first time too, was was not impressed with Erith’s streets.

She said: “It’s terrible. There’s lots of lorries. It takes them so long to get through traffic lights [which makes the traffic worse].”

Another woman, who who did not want to be named, was even more damning.

She said of driving in Erith: “It’s shocking.

"No one gives way and there’s no courtesy on the road.

"I think half of them don’t know the Highway Code rules, to be honest with you.

"I’ve had a licence since 1982 and passed first time.”

Other locals heading to their cars at the shopping centre didn’t think Erith was much worse than anywhere else in the country.

Patrick Daigbe, 60, who passed his driving test in Europe said: “It’s not bad at all. It’s not rough like in [inner] London.

"There are a lot of lorries and getting to the M25 can be very frustrating sometimes.

"I passed my test in Europe and then changed it to British. It’s better driving in Europe than here.”

And 44-year-old Zoe Wright also believed Erith, on the outskirts of the capital, was an improvement on driving in central London.

She said: “It’s alright driving around here. I only ever really do short journeys and I’m used to driving in the centre of London, so this is tame compared to there.”

Out of the areas with the 20 highest driving test failure rates, six were in London.

The highest pass rate from 2022 figures was Campbeltown in Scotland. 92 per cent of people passed their test there, a full 60 per cent more than in Erith.

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