Don't book a driving test unless you're sure you'll pass, pleads DVSA
Officials are currently battling a backlog of half a million tests
Last updated 21st Apr 2021
The DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency) are urging learner drivers not to book a driving test unless they're confident they'll pass it.
It's in a bid to clear a backlog of 420,000 tests that have built up over the course of the pandemic.
In a recent letter to instructors across the country the DVSA's new Chief Executive said there's currently a 17-week wait for tests.
In order to reduce the backlog, they only want pupils who are likely to pass the test to take it and are urging people not to book tests before they've had lessons.
According to data from the DVSA, only around 47% of pupils pass their driving test first time in the UK.
Ashley Neal is a driving instructor in the Liverpool area.
"Effectively, on average, people are going to take two tests to get through and this is the message that the DVSA are trying to get across."
"The only way they're going to quickly short this backlog is by stopping people maybe having two tests, and getting the average down to maybe one and a half tests."
"They're reaching out to people to say, well, try and make sure that you are prepared for it, give yourself a proper chance, rather than just hoping."
"The DVSA are still recruiting examiners so they're doing their bit to try and help but it needs to be trying to be fixed from all sides for this backlog to get lower and lower."
"I'm not sure how long they estimate that this backlog is going to continue but I'm suspecting it's going to be well over a year before that backlog is significantly eaten into."
"She's been waiting nearly 18 months for a test"
Dave adds: "What we're trying to do now is prioritise those who've got the test coming up in April and May and June, so that they are test-ready. But then that puts a backlog on starting new learners. It's already started to get very busy.
He adds, one of his pupils has been waiting to take her test since this time last year...
"She started lessons from scratch, she's had regular lessons when we've been allowed to teach and she booked a test maybe April or May time last year and that was cancelled due to the first lockdown."
"Unfortunately she rebooked it and it happened to be again, just after we were put in lockdown in November."
"Then she booked it again for around March time and then obviously, we were still locked down and not able to work so now it's been pushed back to the end of August."
"Unfortunately, this whole scenario is going to cost people a fair bit more money in that practice leading up to the test."
"It differs from pupil to pupil, some will be able to get back in the car and it will just click and they'll go straight back into it, for some, it might take them six to ten extra lessons."
"What I would always advise is constant regular practice, even if it's every couple of weeks with your instructor, that's better than having a massive break.
"The continuity of lessons is one of the big important things to actually trying to get someone a first-time pass."