Learner drivers across the UK are set to benefit from a major overhaul of the driving test system, as the Driving Standards Agency (DVSA) announces a new strategy to tackle a record-breaking backlog.
New Measures to Combat Backlog
The DVSA has confirmed that driving examiners will be offered a £5,000 'retention payment' from next year in a bid to stop them leaving the role. This comes as Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander revealed that while 316 new examiners have been recruited, the net gain is only 40 due to others departing.
In a significant move to create a fairer system, bots and third parties will be banned from booking tests. This measure aims to dismantle the lucrative resale market where tests are touted to frustrated learners. From now on, only genuine learner drivers will be able to make bookings.
Record Waiting Times and Military Assistance
Ms Alexander stated, "We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L-plates who have been sadly forced to endure record waiting times for their tests. Every learner should have an equal and fair opportunity to take a test."
The scale of the problem is substantial. Official statistics show that 668,128 people had a practical test booked at the end of September, a significant increase from the 579,138 recorded a year earlier. Tests can currently be booked up to 24 weeks in advance.
To further ease the pressure, the government is calling on the Ministry of Defence for support. Military driving examiners, who usually test service personnel on everything from cars to armoured carriers, are set to be seconded to help clear the queue. Al Carns, the minister for the armed forces, confirmed that this would not impact military operations.
Industry Reaction to the Changes
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, welcomed the crackdown on touts, saying, "It is good to see steps being put in place to put a stop to those touting tests to frustrated learners. Candidates stuck in the queue should at least be reassured that they aren’t being elbowed aside by those simply seeking to make a quick buck."
These combined efforts represent the most significant shake-up of the driving test system in years, offering hope to hundreds of thousands of learners awaiting their chance to get on the road.
