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The Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
The 10 best places in the UK to pass your driving test first time revealed… do YOU live near one?
THE best places to take your driving test have been revealed in a new analysis of DVSA data - and it's good news for drivers in Scotland. There are "remarkable" differences in first-time pass rates across the UK, according to the figures. 5 5 5 5 It comes after The Sun previously revealed the hardest test centres to pass at. From three-point turns to checking blind spots, there is plenty for novice drivers to think about during their test. And with a long wait for a slot, knowing you have a good chance of success is crucial. The best location to take your driving test is Montrose, in Scotland, where a staggering 69.6% of drivers pass on the first attempt. The second-best test centre is Forfar, just down the road from Montrose. Although 69.5% of learners pass in Forfar, men have much more luck than women. While 75.5% of men pass, only 64.2% of women will receive their licence after their first attempt. Although the two best centres in the UK are in Scotland, English drivers shouldn't worry. There is only a tiny difference in the success rate between the best centre in England and Scotland. The beautiful lake district town of Kendal, in Cumbria, has a first-time pass rate of 69.1%. Shocking moment speeding van driver distracted by phone slams into broken-down car leaving victim with lifelong injuries And here women are more likely to get the stamp of approval from their examiner - 71.4% pass first time compared to 66.8% of men. The best centre in Wales rounds out the top five with a 66.9% first time pass rate. Nervous test-takers face a much bigger challenge in other parts of the country. Test centres in cities in the Midlands and North West are the trickiest for first timers, according to the data provided by Traffic Chart. In Wolverhampton, over two-thirds of people will leave disappointed after the first attempt. This makes it the worst place in the country to take your driving test. And down the road in Featherstone, only 31.9% of first-time test takers pass. Martijn Hulshof, founder of Traffic Chart, said: "These figures show remarkable regional variations in driving test success rates. "Scottish test centres perform exceptionally well, possibly due to less congested roads and different driving conditions compared to major urban areas." When it comes to picking a place to take your test, Hulshof said: "Rural locations typically offer better odds of first-time success, but practical factors like travel distance should be weighed against the potential benefits.' He also explained that men generally outperformed women across the country when it comes to first-time pass rates. Hulshof said: "It suggests that factors such as anxiety and pressure may affect male and female drivers differently in testing environments." How to boost your chances of passing first time Seb Goldin, CEO of RED Driver Training, the largest driving school in the UK, that trains nearly a quarter of all driving instructors in the country, has shared his top five tips to help boost your chances of passing for the first time: Master your manoeuvres Ensure you're confident with key manoeuvres like parallel parking, a forward bay park or a reverse bay park. These can make or break your test, so practice them until you're confident in doing these under pressure. Let your instructor know ahead of your test if there's anything you're concerned about and they can help you practice until needed. Plan your lessons with your instructor wisely Take lessons at different times of day, including busy periods. This helps you get comfortable with all driving conditions and traffic situations, giving you a true feel for real-world driving. Particularly if the only time you can secure a test is during a busy period – you'll be thanking yourself later. Your instructor will also help make sure you're test ready and point out anything that needs to be worked on. They're there to help your chances of passing for the first time! Focus on observation and awareness The driving test is as much about your ability to spot hazards as it is about your car control. Stay alert, check mirrors regularly, and always anticipate what's happening on the road. Your examiner will be looking out for this, so keep this in the back of your mind while taking the test. Know your theory Putting your theory knowledge into practice is more important during your test than ever. There are also resources students can use to ensure that they are fully prepared – at RED, we have apps to help our students prepare for their tests such as the Learn to Drive with RED app and RED's Complete Driving Theory app. Stay calm under pressure Don't let nerves get the best of you. Stay calm, take deep breaths, and if you make a mistake, don't let it get to you. Keep your focus on the next task and show the examiner you can recover quickly. 5
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Man who baited birds of prey with rat poison in landowner feud sentenced
A man who baited birds of prey with pheasants coated in rat poison has been ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work. Clive Burgoyne, 38, of Forfar in Angus, left four pheasant carcasses gutted and filled with rat poison as part of an ongoing feud with a neighbouring landowner over shooting rights. He hoped his actions would cause reputational damage to the Guynd estate near Arbroath, Angus, according to prosecutors. At Forfar Sheriff Court on April 22, Burgoyne pleaded guilty to a breach of wildlife legislation between January and February 2023. The court heard he left four pheasant carcasses coated in rodenticide which would cause haemorrhaging, in a bid to harm birds of prey. On Thursday at the same court, he was given a community payback order and 135 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said. Prosecutors said he put birds of prey 'at risk of injury or death' using a known rat poison which can kill a bird of prey in a single feed. Prosecutors told how witnesses saw Burgoyne in the front passenger seat of a car travelling towards, and later away, from the Guynd estate on the morning of February 3, 2023. A short time later, an estate worker discovered a dead pheasant on a footpath within the estate, COPFS said. The breast had been removed and the bird was covered in a quantity of grain and seed which was then coated in a bright blue liquid. A further search of the area revealed three more dead pheasants nearby which had been similarly cut open and treated, according to COPFS. Analysis carried out by officials at the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture confirmed the blue grain was a known rodenticide formulation. They believed the appearance of the pheasant carcasses suggested they had been prepared and set out with the intention of causing harm to birds. After being arrested, a sample of Burgoyne's DNA was found on all four of the dead birds. Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife and environmental crime at COPFS, said: 'It is highly important to preserve Scotland's natural heritage, including the wildlife that forms part of it. 'As such, wild birds are given strict protection by our law. 'Clive Burgoyne's reckless actions put various wildlife, particularly birds of prey, at risk of injury and death. 'COPFS takes offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act seriously and will prosecute individuals where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the public interest to do so. 'The result in this case is a testament to the collaborative working between COPFS, Police Scotland, and Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, who in this case were able to provide vital forensic evidence.'
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
St Mirren visit Arbroath in season opener
St Mirren travel to Arbroath on 12 July for the opening game of their Premier Sports Cup campaign. After guiding the Buddies to another top-half finish last term, Stephen Robinson's season begins with a visit to newly-promoted Championship outfit Arbroath followed by a trip to Forfar. St Mirren host Annan Athletic and Ayr United in their final two Group D games.
Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scotland women win gold in fly fishing international
Scotland's women were last 12 months ago but now top the podium. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The fly fishing team claimed gold in the Home International across the Irish Sea. They made the trip to Ireland privately hoping to top the podium after finishing bottom of the pile 12 months ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And they made the quantum leap up the standings on a tough day for fishing on Lough Lene. The ladies team Only five of the 12-strong team hooked into fish, but it was just enough to secure top spot. Deirdre Dunbar, originally from Annan, and Kathleen Shepherd (Forfar) both caught two fish with Kirsty Murray (Dunfermline), debutant Liz Stringer (Glasgow) and Jane Wright Cove) all bagging one. Dunbar was Scotland's top rod with her two fish totalling 96cm. She finished third overall. Shepherd was fourth equal with Kirsty Murray sixth and Stringer seventh equal with Wright tenth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad England were second and they also caught seven fish to score 321, one behind the Tartan Team. Hosts Ireland, who only caught three fish, were third with 135, a major disappointment on home water. Only 17 fish were caught with the average length of 46cm and the top bag was posted by English angler, Sam Edmunds, with three for 135. The longest fish was tempted by English angler, Lisa Isles, of 56cm.
Edinburgh Reporter
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Gold for Scotland ladies in fly international
Scotland's women's fly fishing team were still celebrating today after claiming gold in the Home International across the Irish Sea. They made the trip to Ireland privately hoping to top the podium after finishing bottom of the pile 12 months ago and they made the quantum leap up the standings on a tough day for fishing on Lough Lene. Deirdre Dunbar, originally from Annan, and Kathleen Shepherd (Forfar) both caught two fish with Kirsty Murray (Dunfermline), debutant Liz Stringer (Glasgow) and Jane Wright (Cove) all bagging one. Dunbar was Scotland's top rod with her two fish totalling 96cm. She finished third overall. Shepherd was fourth equal with Kirsty Murray sixth and Stringer seventh equal with Wright tenth. England were second and they also caught seven fish to score 321, one behind the Tartan Team. Hosts Ireland, who only caught three fish, were third with 135, a major disappointment on home water. Only 17 fish were caught with the average length of 46cm and the top bag was posted by English angler, Sam Edmunds, with three for 135. The longest fish was tempted by English angler, Lisa Isles, of 56cm. Like this: Like Related
