The driving test pass rate increased in Oxford during the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.

It is thought that the quieter roads and motivated key workers taking their tests were behind the rate hitting a record high across the UK in 2020-21.

However, the latest figures will do little to comfort the thousands of people nationally who had their tests cancelled due to Covid restrictions.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency data shows that of 3,174 practical tests at Oxford Test Centre in 2020-21, 1,591 ended in success – a pass rate of 50 per cent.

That was up from 49 per cent the previous year.

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However, far fewer tests were undertaken at Oxford Test Centre over the latest period due to Covid-19 restrictions, which saw only key workers permitted to take tests during the enforced lockdowns.

In total, there were 3,174 driving tests in 2020-21 – compared to 10,173 in 2019-20 – with 3,962 cancelled due to the pandemic.

The data also showed the rate of success for people taking their driving test for the first time.

At Oxford Test Centre, 968 out of 1,928 people passed on the first attempt in 2020-21 – 50 per cent. That was below the national average of 51 per cent.

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