The government has made a commitment to address the backlog of learner drivers waiting for practical tests in England by pledging to provide an additional 10,000 driving tests per month. Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, highlighted the current wait times of over five months as “totally unacceptable” during a session with parliament’s transport committee. The aim is to clear the backlog by next summer and reduce the average waiting time to no more than seven weeks by summer 2026.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) had originally planned to reduce waiting times to seven weeks by the end of this year, but the increase in demand and changes in booking behavior led to a significant backlog. To address this, the government intends to double training capacity to increase the availability of driving examiners. Additionally, qualified personnel in other roles within DVSA would be temporarily reassigned to frontline roles, and overtime pay incentives for test delivery staff would be reintroduced.
In an effort to combat the delays, plans are also in place to crackdown on test booking bots that exploit learners by rapidly booking multiple test slots and reselling them at inflated prices. Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving School, expressed support for the government’s efforts to reduce waiting times, emphasizing the importance of unblocking the system to ensure individuals are not hindered in accessing job opportunities or education due to the lack of a driving licence.
The government will consult on changes to the test booking system in response to the record 1.95 million tests booked last year. By implementing these measures and addressing the issues contributing to the backlog, the government aims to streamline the process and provide a more efficient and accessible system for learner drivers in England
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