I don't like Mondays, so says the song, but it might be the best day of the week if you're about to sit your driving test.

Learner drivers desperate to ditch their L plates should get behind the wheel at the start of the working week if they want to pass, according to new data just released.

The figures, released by the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) shed some light on which day a candidate is statistically most likely to pass their practical exam.

The statistics for 2019, which is the last year of full data available because of cancellations last year caused by the pandemic, confirm that taking your test at either end of the week may alter the outcome.

And while we all love that Friday feeling, it seems being put through your paces just ahead of the weekend makes you less likely to impress your examiner.

On Monday, the average pass rate was 47.15%. This compares to Friday when it was down to 45.06%. Tuesday (46.5%) is the second most successful day to take a driving test, followed by Thursday (45.8%).

Driving tests in the UK resumed last month after being suspended in December yet again due to the coronavirus outbreak, leaving many patient learners more eager than ever now to sit their practical exams. One driving school in Kent estimates that it could take up to two years to address the backlog caused by the lockdowns.

In 2019 the luckiest day of the year was Sunday May 19, when 58% of learners passed their test. And for those new drivers with a test date in the diary - Sunday, July 28 in 2019 was not a good day with just 33% of people given the go-ahead to begin going for a spin without supervision.

The overall pass rate in 2019, say the figures, was 45.9%.

Duncan McClure Fisher, founder and chief executive of MotorEasy which gathered the DVSA data, said: “Most people dread Mondays but our research shows it could be your ally when it comes to a driving test.

“Showcasing your skills behind the wheel to an examiner is a nerve-wracking situation for any new driver, whatever their age. From three-point turns to emergency stops, there are plenty of things that can, and often do, go wrong for rookie motorists.

“So there must be no better way to start the week than finally taking off the L plates and getting out onto the open road.”

Alongside the pass and fail data for practical driving tests, the DVSA has also released some of the top reasons for failing a driving test.

They include not making effective observations at junctions, not using mirrors correctly when changing direction, and not having proper control of the steering. Failing to respond properly to traffic lights was also a repeated offence while learning stalling or rolling back a 'considerable distance' when trying to move off was another error that could contribute to a fail.

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