Being involved in a road traffic collision is a distressing experience. But imagine having a shunt during your driving test.

With stress levels already peaking in the hope of passing, having a crash during the test would be a straining scenario for anyone. 

But it happens to learners more often than you might think, with exclusive data shared with This is Money revealing that almost 1,500 crashes have occurred during practical driving tests in the last four years.

The figures add fuel to the fire for those calling for the introduction of Graduated Driving Licences (GDLs) for newly qualified motorists to improve road safety standards.

Transport policy and research organisation RAC Foundation sent a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency asking for the number of road collisions that have occurred during driving tests annually between 2020 and 2023.

The data shows that 1,488 crashes took place involving learners during practical tests over the four-year period.

Last year saw the most collisions during driving tests in a calendar year, with 538 incidents reported in total.

In 16 per cent (85) of these crashes, at least one person sustained injuries.

Across the four-year spell, 247 accidents involved someone suffering injury in crashes occurring during driving tests, which represents 17 per cent of instances.

The DVSA's figures do not proportion blame, so it is unknown how many of the 1,488 collisions were the fault of the person with the provisional licence. 

What we do know is that the numbers would have been higher had the usual volume of driving tests been undertaken in 2020 and 2021.

The number practical tests sat by learners in the financial year 2020-21 fell to 436,044 due to lockdowns and driving test centres closing as a result of the spread of Covid-19.

This was a dramatic 72.7 per cent decline on the 12 months prior, with 1,599,566 driving tests taken in 2019-20.

In a bid to clear the huge backlog of learners build up during the pandemic, the number of practical tests rose to 1,689,000 between March 2022 and 2023 - an increase of 10 per cent year-on-year and up around 6 per cent on pre-Covid volumes.

Steve Gooding, RAC Foundation's director Steve Gooding said: 'This is a stark and unwelcome reminder that life on the road can be unforgiving. 

'Of course, many of these crashes are likely to have been caused not by the candidate but those who have already passed a test and think that doing so has made them the perfect driver.

'Whatever stage of our driving lives we are at, and whenever we are behind the wheel, we need to remember our responsibilities.

'However, newly qualified young drivers are particularly vulnerable and disproportionately involved in crashes. International evidence shows a graduated licensing system could improve safety.

'This might include a minimum learning period during which the novice gains vital experience and maturity.

'As well as helping learners prepare for life after they get their licence it should improve driving test pass rates which sit at below half not just for first-time tests but also all retakes, and if pass rates rise then waiting times to take a test will drop.'

Should new drivers start with graduated licences? 

A number of motoring bodies and road safety groups have reconfirmed their backing for the introduction of graduated driving licences in recent weeks.

Among them is the AA, which has called on the new Labour government to address the number of teenage deaths on the roads by limiting peer passengers in the first six months after passing tests.

A GDL allows new drivers to pass through stages of experience learning and restriction – from winter weather driving to limits on the number of passengers and late night driving – where supervision is required.

As new drivers progress through stages, they gain more privileges until they are granted a full driver's licence after completing all the requirements.

The RAC has also outlined its vision for a GDL system with similar conditions.

It would extend over a probationary two-year period. In line with existing rules, new drivers will have licences revoked if they receive six points during the initial 24 months.

Motoring bodies believe a two-year GDL period would provide a suitable window for new drivers to gain experience gradually and reduce the risks that surround inexperienced drivers. 

Statistical evidence shows that the first 1,000 miles a young and inexperienced driver covers have the highest risk of being involved in a collision.

New Zealand is among the countries where a similar scheme is already used. In fact, a three-stage GDL was introduced there way back in 1987 for all new drivers aged 15 to 24 years.

Since the legislation came in, there's been a 23 per cent reduction in car collision injuries for 15 to 19-year-olds, and a 12 per cent reduction for 20 to 24-year-olds in the country.

Edmund King OBE, AA president, said: 'One of the major issues that needs to be addressed is the needless deaths of young drivers, their passengers and others caught up in these crashes.

'Most people don't realise, until it is too late, that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults ages five to 29 years according to the World Health Organisation.

'We owe it to the next generation to introduce positive measures that will help give them healthy and prosperous lives.'

Advanced drivers also believe in GDLs.

IAM RoadSmart's director of policy and standards, Nicholas Lyes, said: 'Evidence from around the world shows that graduated driver licensing saves lives and reduces injuries where it has been introduced. 

'In 2022, more than 300 people in Britain lost their lives following a collision involving a younger car driver and more than 4,500 suffered serious injuries. 

'These are appalling figures and the time has come to urgently take action to stop more needless deaths on our roads.'