THE driving test centre in Peebles has the highest first-time pass rate of any in the UK, a study has found.

An impressive 157 out of 201, or 78 per cent, of drivers passed on their initial attempt at the hub on Rosetta Road.

Insurance broker One Sure Insurance analysed public driving test data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) between April 2022 and April 2023.

Throughout the period, 80 per cent of male drivers and 76 per cent of female drivers passed on their first attempt in Peebles.

Six of those completed their tests with zero faults, the equivalent to three per cent of the total attempts during the period.

Chris Lear, managing director at One Insurance, said: “These findings offer great insight into the areas where learner drivers are most likely to pass their driving test for the first time, with many rural Scottish towns dominating the top spots.

“There are a number of factors that can influence a test centre’s pass rates. Less densely populated high streets, fewer cars on the roads and less complicated junctions, can often make it less stressful for learner drivers taking their test in rural towns, compared to those being assessed in more built-up urban areas.

“Learners taking tests at these centres may also benefit from having spent more time practising on quieter roads outside of their regular driving lessons, which can help build up their confidence when it comes time to take their practical test.”

Peebles was joined by Hawick and Kelso respectively in the top three centres for first-time pass rates, with 77 per cent and 76 per cent respectively.

At the Burnfoot Road hub 195 out of 254 people recorded first-time passes, with 80 per cent of male drivers and 74 per cent of female drivers passing on their opening try.

Kelso ranked close behind. One-hundred-and-sixty-five tests were taken between April 2022 to April 2023, of which 125 were first-time passes.

In contrast to Peebles and Hawick, female drivers were more likely to pass first time at a rate of 79 per cent, compared to 71 per cent of male drivers.

Test centres with fewer than 100 recorded driving test attempts, or insufficient data were excluded from the final results.

When looking nationally at more than 800,000 driving tests conducted between 2022 and 2023, male drivers were slightly more likely to pass first time than female drivers, at a rate of 52 per cent for men, compared to 47 per cent for women.

Other centres that featured in the top 20 for first-time passes were: Arbroath (73 per cent); Montrose (73 per cent); Kendal (70 per cent); Forfar (70 per cent); Alnwick (69 per cent); Lerwick (65 per cent); Chichester (65 per cent); Bridlington (65 per cent); Oban (64 per cent); Pembroke Dock (64 per cent); Stranraer (64 per cent); Newton Stewart (64 per cent); Lee-on-the-Solent (64 per cent); Fraserburgh (63 per cent); Alness (63 per cent); Basingstoke (63 per cent); and Barrow-in-Furness (62 per cent).