A NEW survey has found that Reading is the second most difficult place for new drivers.
A study conducted by Value My Car examined which towns and cities in the UK were most difficult to navigate for new drivers.
It used five main factors: cost of learning to drive, accident rates, accident rates per 10K residents, driving test pass rates, and traffic quality.
Data was collected from a number of public sources including government and regional crash data collected between 2019-2023, as well as driving test pass statistics from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
They also collected cost estimates from driving schools and instructor associations and traffic quality indices from local government and transportation departments.
Each factor was given a 20% weighting in the overall score, and the final ranking was calculated by summing the weighted scores for each factor– higher scores indicate cities where driving is more difficult due to higher costs, accident rates, lower pass rates, and traffic challenges.
Bristol ranked most difficult, followed by Reading in second place.
Norwich ranked third, Middlsborough fourth, Carlisle fifth, Southampton sixth, and Exeter seventh.
London, Nottingham, and Portsmouth ranked eighth through tenth respectively.
Reading registered more than 200 accidents between 2019-2023, at a rate of just under 13 per 10,000 people.
It also had a driving test pass rate of just over 47% and a traffic quality score of 131.47, indicating considerable congestion and road navigation difficulties for new drivers.
This gave it an overall final score of 95.26 in difficulty.
A spokesperson from Value My Car said: “Reading’s position as the second most challenging city for new drivers reflects a complex driving environment that demands exceptional attention and skill.
“The combination of moderate accident rates with a challenging traffic quality index creates a particularly demanding atmosphere for those just starting their driving journey.
“This data underscores the importance of comprehensive driver education and preparation in Reading, where new drivers must navigate both technical and environmental challenges.”
They explained: “The statistics from Reading present a clear picture of why it ranks so highly in driving difficulty.
“With a driving test pass rate below 50% and a significant traffic quality index, we’re seeing a city where new drivers face multiple hurdles.
“The moderate accident rate of 211 incidents over four years, while not the highest in the study, suggests an environment where careful navigation and advanced driving skills are essential for safety.
“These factors combine to create a particularly challenging landscape for those learning to drive or recently qualified.”
Full details and more information are available via: valuemycar.co.uk
