Learner drivers urged not to take test unless they are ‘confident they can pass’ as Covid-fuelled backlog hits half a million
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) warned people not to take test until ready because of backlog
- Figures from October 22 from DVSA showed 538,832 tests were booked for following 24 weeks
- DVSA has also announced measures to boost test slots, including holding tests outside normal hours including on weekends and bank holidays
Learner drivers are being urged not to take their tests until they are ‘confident they can pass’ as the backlog caused by the Covid pandemic hit half a million.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) yesterday warned people not to take their test until they were ready because they could end up waiting a significantly longer amount of time for a retest.
Figures for October 22, obtained by the AA Driving School from the DVSA, showed that 538,832 tests were booked for the following 24 weeks Loveday Ryder, the DVSA chief executive, told The Daily Telegraph:
‘I know learners will be keen to take their test now, but it is important that they are properly prepared for their test and don’t take it before they are ready.
‘With more than half of candidates failing and demand currently extremely high for tests, learners should only take their test when they are confident they can pass.
‘This will help them avoid a lengthy wait for a retest and help us by not adding to the driving test waiting list.’
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) yesterday warned people not to take their test until they were ready because they could end up waiting a significantly longer amount of time for a retest (stock image)
The DVSA has also announced a number of measures to boost test slots, including holding tests outside normal hours including on weekends and bank holidays,
They have also launched a campaign to recruit more examiners and asking recently retired examiners to return.
The large backlog of driving candidates has been caused largely by the coronavirus lockdowns during which driving tests were prohibited.
Some drivers have also waited so long for their practical tests that their theory test pass certificate has expired.
Some drivers have also waited so long for their practical tests that their theory test pass certificate has expired
Current rules state a driver must take a practical test within two years of passing the theory test.
During successive lockdowns MOT certificates that expired were extended but the Government did not do the same with theory tests.
Robert Cowell, AA Driving School interim managing director, said: ‘Learners were left disappointed when the Government decided not to extend theory test certificates that expired in the lockdowns, as they did with MOTs, and it’s disheartening to see that the practical test backlog reached half a million tests this year.’
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