The majority of car drivers who sat their tests between January and October this year failed the exam according to new figures from the RSA.

The figures, released to the Journal.ie, show that the Clifden in Galway had the highest pass rate at 77%.

Meanwhile, Kilrush in County Clare had the lowest pass rate – with 66% of people failing.

Overall, 49% of drivers across the country passed the test in the first ten months of 2018.

Dublin’s four test centres saw some of the highest failure rates in the country – with Tallaght coming in at 52.5%, Churchtown coming in at 57%, Finglas at 60% and Raheny on 62%.

John Walsh, head of the Irish School of Motoring said there are a number of reasons drivers may find it harder in the capital.

“I suppose you could extrapolate from that, that it is the higher traffic volumes and more complications,” he said.

“It is easier to drive in perhaps, Letterkenny or Bandon than it is in Raheny, Dublin or Churchtown, Dublin.

“I suppose the higher the traffic volumes, the more that can go wrong on an average drive.”

Kilkenny saw the second highest failure rate in the country at 63% followed by Raheny on 62%.

The highest pass rates were in the north and west of the country.

Newcastle in Limerick had the second highest pass rate on 62% with Donegal coming third at 61%.