Driving tests resume across England but the DVSA says don't book one unless you're sure you'll pass
Officials are currently battling a backlog of half a million tests
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.
Dave Humphrey's own's Intuition Driver Training in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
"I've spoken to one of my students. She initially had a test the beginning of lockdown last year that was obviously cancelled. She got a new date that was cancelled again, she had a next booked for November. So that was cancelled again. So she's now got a test booked for August time. She's been waiting since beginning of March last year, basically for a test."
"She will have waited over 18 months by the time she takes her 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.
"We have a waiting list at the moment of about 30. I've got eight instructors at the minute and I'm looking to train up another five instructors to cover the backlog. Hopefully we can get the waiting list down as quick as possible.
Dave says this has been and is going to be a really challenging time for both instructors and students.
"Because there haven't been any tests this year, the students who were getting test-ready were having constant lessons. They've slipped back a bit."