WANSTEAD has been rated the most difficult place to pass your driving test in the UK.

Official test data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has revealed more than two thirds of people fail their tests in Wanstead.

Four of the five most difficult places to pass your test are in London, with a fail rate of 64.8 per cent in Wood Green, 64.6 per cent in Barking and 66.9 per cent in Belvedere, Bexley.

Barrow-on-Furness in Cumbria was rated the easiest place to pass nationwide, with only 33.9 per cent of learner drivers failing there.

Meanwhile routes from the Wanstead driving test centre in Hermon Hill include some of greater London’s most notorious traffic hotspots, such as Redbridge Roundabout and Charlie Brown’s Roundabout in South Woodford.

Mohammad Rukhsar, who has been a driving instructor in east London for more than 10 years, claims bad pass rates are down to a lack of commitment from learner drivers.

He said: “The Wanstead test routes have a lot of heavy dual carriageways and big roundabouts.

“But I think the main reason people fail their tests is because they are not prepared enough.

“I get lots of people coming to me only wanting a few lessons before they go in for their tests, but really you need an average of about 43 hours of lessons of practice.

“People aren’t prepared to put the time and commitment in. Maybe it’s because they don’t want to spend the extra money, but combined with nerves on the day, that’s why people are failing.”

Mr Rukhsar added that junctions are learner drivers’ main downfall and also cause 75 per cent of crashes.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan recently visited Redbridge Roundabout to address concerns about the dangerous A12/A406 junction nicknamed “suicide alley”.

DVSA’s Chief driving examiner Lesley Young did not comment on Wanstead’s bad pass rates.

But she said: “All candidates are assessed to the same level and the result of their test is entirely dependent on their performance on the day.

“It’s essential that all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge and attitude to drive safely.

“The driver testing and training regime tests candidates’ ability to drive safely and responsibly as well as making sure they know the theory behind safe driving.”