Speed is one of the things learners worry about most before a test. Go a little over the limit and you fear a fail. Hold back too much and you can be marked for hesitation. This guide explains how examiners judge speed, based on DVSA guidance and our experience preparing learners for the Oxford test at Cowley.
How Examiners Judge Your Speed
There is no published tolerance above the limit, and no fixed figure that means an automatic fail. Examiners look at how far over or under you are, how long it lasts, and whether it creates any risk.
- AGoing over the limitDriving even 1mph over the limit is technically speeding. A brief, slight overspeed that you correct quickly is treated very differently from holding a higher speed or entering a lower limit much too fast. The longer it continues and the greater the risk, the more likely it becomes a serious fault.
- BDriving too slowlyDriving well below the limit on a clear road, for no reason, can be marked as a lack of progress or hesitation. Examiners need to see that you can keep up with the flow of traffic safely.
- CNot adjusting to conditionsThe limit is a maximum, not a target. You also need to slow down for bends, junctions, parked cars, cyclists and poor weather. Driving at the limit when the conditions call for less can be a fault too.
The three types of fault
- Driving fault: not potentially dangerous, but if you keep making the same fault it could become a serious fault. You can have up to 15 and still pass.
- Serious fault: something potentially dangerous. One serious fault means you do not pass.
- Dangerous fault: something that involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property. One dangerous fault means you do not pass.
Speed Control, Do and Do Not
Most speed faults we see on mock tests come from a handful of habits. These are the ones to build, and the ones to lose.
Do
- Aim to drive at the limit when the road is clear and it is safe
- Be at the new, lower speed by the time you pass the sign
- Check your speedometer regularly, especially after a limit changes
- Plan ahead for hills, and ease off before a downhill stretch
- Slow down early for hazards, rather than braking late
- Correct a small overspeed quickly and smoothly
Do not
- Treat the speedometer as having a built in safety margin
- Let the car creep over the limit on a downhill
- Drive far below the limit on a clear road out of nerves
- Leave slowing down until you reach a lower limit sign
- Stare at the speedometer instead of watching the road
- Rely on a sat nav speed display, which can be out of date
Three Things Learners Often Ask
Is my speedometer accurate?
Speedometers are not allowed to show less than your true speed, and many read slightly high. Use it as your guide and aim to show the limit, but do not treat any difference as a safety margin.
Can I trust the sat nav limit?
Sat nav and phone apps often show speed limits, but they can be wrong or out of date. The signs on the road are what count, on the test and afterwards.
What about Oxford's limits?
Most roads around Oxford have limits of 20mph or 30mph, and they change often, frequently close to junctions and roundabouts. Practising on the roads around the Cowley test centre helps you spot the changes early.
Speed on Your Test: Your Questions Answered
Will going 1mph over the limit fail my test?
Can I fail for driving too slowly?
Do I have to drive exactly at the limit?
How many minor faults can I get and still pass?
What if my speed creeps up on a hill?
Get your speed judgement test ready
A mock test on the Oxford test routes is the best way to find out whether your speed control is where it needs to be.
