Scots suffering the most from driving test backlog
Woman driving a car. Free public domain CC0 photo.
Recent figures from the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) reveal that Scotland has the longest average waiting time for driving tests of anywhere in the UK.
Since the pandemic and the months of no driving tests being carried out there has been an enormous backlog of potential drivers waiting to sit their test.
Data from Route-Led shows that more than half a million people were waiting to sit their driving test in 2022. With all 237 test centres across the UK experiencing a strain on resources, the seemingly endless list of those waiting does not look like ending anytime soon.
Glasgow is among the worst affected areas by the backlog of driving tests with the waiting times from before the pandemic more than doubling in some of the cities test centres.
Shieldhall test centre in Glasgow’s south side was revealed to have went from 6.9 weeks wait time pre Covid- the lowest in Glasgow- and it has risen to a staggering 23 week wait time for hopeful drivers.
DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder said: “Following the pandemic, we know many learners have waited a long time to take their driving test, so alongside other measures, we’ve recruited almost 500 examiners and are currently recruiting more to help provide more tests. Learners should only take their driving test if they are completely ready to pass.”
The DVSA has also claimed that measures such as hiring new examiners and sanctioning overtime on weekends and public holidays has helped to create 695,000 extra test appointments to help combat the extensive waiting list.
Being able to drive is a skill that many people rely on and the limitations they face is having an impact on lives across the country.
The pile up of those waiting to sit practical tests is also having an impact on theory tests as the time period theory tests are valid for is two years.
Jack Hutton, 24, from Glasgow has to commute four hours to his job in Grangemouth and fears he may have to resit his theory: “I passed my test in June 2021 and took lessons from there. I had my test booked for November 2022, but because my instructor sustained a serious injury I had to reschedule until April 2023. I unfortunately failed that and can’t get another test until after my theory is valid.” Jack is one of many facing similar scenarios across Scotland who have fallen victim to the lack of availability.
It was published by the DVSA that the ass rate of those who sat a driving test between October and December of 2022 was only 48%. With less than half of drivers passing their test the need for resits does nothing to ease the strain on waiting times.
It emerged that the DVSA planned to change rules around resits in an attempt to ease backlogs. The current rue states that you must wait ten days after failing a test to book in for another test slot. The planned change would see this rise to 28 days before another test can be booked.
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The recent strike action by driving examiners from the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union throughout April would have had a further negative impact on the wait times for tests. With tests being cancelled on the dates of strike action, people were forced to book another test, in some instance’s months after the initial date.
