Driving test delays ‘stopping people moving on with their lives’

11.23 | 10 August 2022 |

The number of learners waiting for a driving test slot has increased to more than half a million, new data shows.

The DVSA figures, obtained by the AA, show as of May of this year, 530,387 learners were waiting to take their practical test.

This compares to the backlog of 496,124 a year earlier.

It means the average waiting time for a test slot is 14 weeks, although according to BBC News, there are reports of learners waiting up to six months in some areas.

Lorna Lee from The AA Driving School says the problem has been created by a ‘perfect storm’ of factors.

She told BBC News: “When lockdown started, driving tests were paused and there were periods when you couldn’t take driving lessons so that’s led to a backlog.

“Covid delayed lots of people already learning to drive, and then add the group who turned 17 during the pandemic and you can see the problem.”

Lorna says the delay is stopping people moving on with their lives – with concerns about increased costs, due to the need to take additional lessons.

She adds: “Whether people need to be able to drive for employment or education, it’s really important they’re able to take that next step.”

As well as delays to tests, exams for trainee driving instructors have also stalled. The same DVSA data shows there were 438 trainees with no test date and waiting times were 24 weeks in some areas.

This means it’s been a busy time for qualified driving instructors, including Jenna Williams from Cardiff, who is fully booked and has a three-month waiting list for new learners.

She puts the backlog down to the pandemic and expiring theory tests.

Jenna said: “During lockdown lots of theory tests ran out because they only have a two year expiry date, which meant pupils had to redo their theory.”

Jenna is also keen to highlight the pressure pupils are under and says it’s the main reason they’re failing.

She said: “I think with a backlog of waiting lists for another test, pupils are just feeling so much pressure… if they fail, they’ve got five to six months and another wait.”

The DVSA says it is tackling the high demand by “recruiting an additional 300 examiners, conducting out of hours testing such as at weekends and on public holidays and asking qualified staff that no longer work as driving examiners to conduct tests.”

A spokeswoman told BBC News: “Following the suspension and further disruption of driver testing over much of the Covid pandemic, we are doing all we can to provide learners with as many practical driving tests as possible and bring average waiting times down to less than 10 weeks by the end of the year.”


 

Comments

Comment on this story

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close