Preston's learner drivers are among the best in the country

Preston drivers have better than average pass rates

And car dealers Swansway Motor Group, which runs Preston Audi and the Volkswagen Van Centre in Preston, thinks it may have the answer.

Living in and around Preston it’s likely that you’ll take your practical driving test at one of four local centres; Preston itself, Chorley, Blackburn or Blackpool, so does this make you more or less likely to pass?

The overall pass rate for the three centres is 48.8 per cent, above the average across the country, which is 47.1 per cent.

A Swansway spokesman said: “Why could this be? Well, it seems that one of the biggest influences on whether you pass or fail is where you take your driving test – with rural areas having significantly higher pass rates than cities or large towns.

“Take your test in the beautiful little Scottish coastal town of Mallaig and the pass rate is 72.2 per cent. Move South to Erith in South East London and your chances of passing plummet to 30.3 per cent”.

Male drivers in Preston have a 53.4 per cent pass rate, whilst their female counterparts have a 44.75 per cent pass rate (2017 figures).

Men win out on passing their test first time too.

A total of 51.8 per cent of males drive to success at the first go, against 43.9 per cent of females (based on 2016 figures).

It seems that the old adage “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” applies to driving too, with 56.8 per cent of 17-year-olds passing the test, whilst just 33.5 per cent of 55-year-olds pass.

The DVSA have yet to release figures for the first quarter of 2018, these will show whether the introduction of Sat Nav to the test has had impact. Keep a look-out as from June instructors with dual control cars, will be able to take their pupils on the motorway.