New rules for driving tests have been set out by the DVSA under its plan to reduce waiting times and help drivers get on the road. The agency says it will review and improve the rules for booking driving tests, aiming to make the system more efficient and easier to use.
The average waiting time in England currently stands at 21 weeks, or just under five months – but can often reach six months or more. The change is just one part of a seven-step plan to bring improvements to the current system. The DVSA has announced it will be recruiting 450 driving examiners across the country to improve the availability of tests.
Figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) earlier this year indicated the number of tests taken reached a record level for the 12 months to the end of March, at 1.9 million. The measures will also see an increase to the period for changing or cancelling a test without losing money, aimed at discouraging late cancellations. This period will rise from three to 10 working days.
This will come alongside changes to the system used by driving instructors to book tests, with the goal of freeing up more slots, as well as calls for evidence to examine how to prevent candidates from being ripped off by third parties buying up slots. Lilian Greenwood, minister for the future of roads, commented: “Passing your driving test is a life-changing opportunity for millions – but sky-high waiting times for tests in recent years have denied this opportunity to too many people.”
She continued, “No one should have to wait six months when they’re ready to pass, travel to the other side of the country to take a driving test, or be ripped off by unscrupulous websites just because they can’t afford to wait. The scale of the backlog we have inherited is huge, but today’s measures are a crucible step to tackle the long driving test wait times, protect learner drivers from being exploited, and support more people to hit the road.”
During an October parliamentary debate, concerns were raised about the impact of delays to driving tests on various professions, including trainee paramedics and aspiring police officers. Labour’s Kevin McKenna shared the story of a constituent whose daughter was “desperate” to become a police officer.
The MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey in Kent said, “She can’t start a job because she needs to be able to drive for the job; she’ll be working shifts. All she could find was a driving test months down the line in Birmingham, 150 miles away. She’s one of the luckier constituents in the sense she could actually find one.”
With the implementation of the new regulations, many believe this could alleviate the strenuous waiting periods and open up more opportunities for individuals eager to earn their driving licenses. The DVSA aims to fulfill the demand by not only improving the testing process but also taking steps to protect prospective drivers from exploitation.
The upcoming changes have the potential to reshape the current approach to driving tests, reinforcing the government's commitment to making road access more equitable for all citizens. With right-minded initiatives being put forth, it appears the road to acquiring driving skills may soon become shorter and more accessible.
