DRIVING tests have been given the green light after months of closure - but what are the most common failures?

Learning to drive is a right of passage in the UK, whether you learn when you're 17 or 75 getting behind the wheel gives you a true sense of freedom. 

But for many people driving can be a laborious and difficult skill to learn and you'll probably have asked yourself what the main reason for failure is. 

The pass rate for driving tests in Britain is just 46%, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

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Here are the top 10 reasons people fail their driving test: 

1. Not making effective observations at junctions.

Not looking and paying enough attention at junctions can land you in hot water but equally, so can undue hesitation. 

Ineffective observations are the main cause of failure, either resulting in a major offence or minors that tally up. 

2. Not using mirrors correctly when changing lanes or direction.

Not using mirrors effectively is a silly mistake that can cause a serious problem and even lead to crashes. 

Using your mirrors means you're more aware of other road users and your surroundings which helps you to drive better. 

3. Not showing control of the steering wheel.

Keeping the steering wheel tightly controlled is key - try not to swerve around whilst driving. 

4. Incorrect observations or positioning when turning right at junctions.

A lot of learner drivers struggle to turn right out of a junction. You should remember to position your car so that it doesn’t cut the corner when making the turn.

5. Failing to move off safely.

You must check your mirrors and look for any blindspots before moving off - this is something every driver is tested on.

6. Not responding appropriately to signs or traffic lights.

Ineffectively reading and interpreting signs and lights is a major issue.

Only drive on a green light, if it's changing to amber you must stay stationary or stop. 

7. Poor positioning on the road during normal driving.

If you're driving too close to other cars or in the middle of the road to avoid cars then this can be a major red flag to your examiner. 

Knowing where to be positioned on the road is a sure sign of confidence so make sure to practice this in the run up to the test.

8. Failing to signal

You must signal your intentions when turning, pulling over, at a roundabout and when you are overtaking - failure to do so is dangerous and could lead to penalties in your test.

9. Not having control of the vehicle when moving off.

If you're not in control of the steering wheel or you roll back whilst moving off, for example, this will lead to a minor or major offence on your test.

Equally, try not to stall as repeated stalling will lead you to a failed test. 

10. Not keeping control of the vehicle during reverse parking.

Evert driver must perform one of three parking maneuvers and losing control while reversing can lead to faults on your test.