DVSA recruitment drive to cut driving test waiting times
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is hiring 450 new driving examiners and making changes to the regulations for scheduling driving tests to help reduce the wait times for these tests.
The seven-point initiative is designed to offer 1.95 million driving tests over the year leading up to March 2025, and it aims to cut the waiting period down to just seven weeks by the end of next year.
Lilian Greenwood, the minister responsible for road transport, stated: “For millions, successfully completing a driving test can transform their lives. However, the excessively long wait times for tests in recent years have taken that chance away from far too many individuals."
"No one should have to endure a six-month delay when they're prepared to take their driving test, travel across the country, or be taken advantage of by dishonest websites simply because they can't afford to wait."
"The backlog we've taken over is significant, but the actions we’re implementing today are vital for addressing the lengthy wait times for driving tests. These measures aim to safeguard learner drivers from being taken advantage of and help more individuals get on the road."
The seven-point strategy involves hiring and training 450 driving examiners, and the job positions have already been posted.
The DVSA plans to evaluate and enhance the guidelines for scheduling driving tests and is seeking feedback on the existing rules and procedures.
Furthermore, the DVSA will implement a new set of stricter terms and conditions for the service that driving instructors utilize to schedule and oversee driving tests for their students. This change will take effect on January 6, 2025.
They specified that only driving instructors or companies that hire driving instructors are allowed to utilize the service for scheduling car driving tests.
The updated terms and conditions clearly state that driving instructors and businesses cannot arrange driving tests for learner drivers they are not instructing.
They also prevent driving instructors and companies from using the information of a learner driver to schedule a driving test that the learner does not actually plan to take. This practice is sometimes used to reserve a spot, allowing the test to be transferred to another learner driver at a later time.
The DVSA plans to seek feedback on new ideas aimed at extending the waiting period for individuals to schedule another driving test under specific circumstances. This includes cases where candidates make several significant or hazardous mistakes during their exam, where they either physically or verbally abuse their examiner, or fail to show up for their test without notifying the DVSA. They are also thinking about introducing a penalty for these actions.
At present, learner drivers must wait 10 business days before they can schedule another test. A consultation, scheduled to begin soon, will provide an overview of the various options being considered.
The DVSA is extending the notice period required to change or cancel a car driving test without forfeiting the fee. Starting now, individuals will need to provide 10 full working days' notice instead of the previous three.
It will also look into adjusting the existing 24-week restriction on how far in advance one can schedule driving tests and promote the ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign to help learner drivers feel more prepared for their driving exams.
