Training hundreds more examiners among measures to cut driving test waits
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Training hundreds more driving examiners and changes to fees to discourage late cancellations are among the measures announced on Wednesday that ministers hope will bring down waiting times for driving tests. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced a seven-point plan to tackle long waits and learners having to pay more for tests that are booked out by third parties trying to make a profit.
Figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) earlier this year indicated that the number of tests taken reached a record level in the 12 months to the end of March, at 1.9 million. Among the measures announced by the DVSA on Wednesday are the recruitment and training of 450 driving examiners, and increasing the period for changing or cancelling a test without losing money from three working days to 10 working days beforehand in a bid to discourage late cancellations.
There will also be changes to the system used by driving instructors to book tests in an attempt to free up more slots, as well as a call for evidence to examine how to prevent candidates being ripped off by third parties buying up slots. The current rules around tests being booked up to 24 weeks in advance will also be looked at, to see if learners could sign up further ahead, and there will be a consultation on proposals to increase the waiting time between tests for people who make multiple serious or dangerous faults, physically or verbally assault an examiner or do not turn up to their test without notice.
