The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed three significant driving rule changes that will come into effect from Tuesday, May 12. All learner drivers must be aware of these new regulations when booking their practical driving test.
First Change: Only Learners Can Book Tests
Under the previous rules, both the person taking the test and their driving instructor were able to book a test. However, going forward, only the learner themselves can do so. The DVSA has confirmed that it will become illegal to book a driving test for anyone else.
Second Change: Tests Managed Only by Learners
Another new rule states that a test can only be managed by the person taking it. This means a driving instructor cannot swap, change, or cancel a driving test on behalf of someone else.
Third Change: Confirmation and Terms
The third and final change requires learners to confirm that they are the person taking the test and agree to a new set of terms and conditions before the test can proceed.
Backlog and Cancellations
Amid a huge backlog, the DVSA has apologised to those who have had their driving tests cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. One 18-year-old told the BBC she has been test-ready for the last year, but Banbury's test centre has cancelled her driving test on multiple occasions.
Robert Wingrove, chair of the Banbury Association of Driving Instructors, said the number of test cancellations is now impacting local driving instructors and their businesses. "For the instructor, they lose out financially… Generally speaking, a 2-hour slot is allocated for each test, only for it to be cancelled which leaves an unpaid gap in their diary that they can't fill." He added that students then cancel further lessons because they feel they are test-ready and don't want to waste more money, leaving instructors with an increasing list of students who are test-ready but have not passed.
A DVSA spokesperson said: "We apologise to those learner drivers who have had their practical driving test cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We are working hard to restore testing capacity at Banbury Driving Test Centre. Learner drivers whose tests have been cancelled will be contacted to have their test rearranged at the earliest opportunity."
