Driving tests: Learners and instructors 'frustrated' after Covid delays push backlog to six months
Although one learner says he won't "give up", the wait for a practical driving test is putting a strain on the driver training industry.
Three out of four driving test centres in the East of England have a waiting time of five or more months, a Freedom of Information request has revealed. A driving instructor from Bedfordshire says one morning at 06:00 BST, around 100 tests went in 17 minutes. What has the impact been on learners and instructors?
'All my friends can drive, I'm the last one left'
James Jessop says it was "frustrating" after he recently turned up to a driving test and was disqualified because of a fault with his instructor's car | Credit: Neve Gordon-Farleigh/BBC
James Jessop says it was "frustrating" after he recently turned up to a driving test and was disqualified because of a fault with his instructor's car | Credit: Neve Gordon-Farleigh/BBC
James Jessop has been trying to book a practical driving test in Peterborough since he failed his first test last year.
The 22-year-old started learning to drive when he was 17 years old, and says he is willing to travel across the region as long as he can sit a practical test before his theory runs out for a second time.
He says: "I went to Grantham [in Lincolnshire] which is about 40 minutes from where I live, we looked at Boston and potentially King's Lynn as well. I even looked as far as Leicester and Bedford which are a bit far, but even they didn't have any spots available when I looked recently."
The main reasons Mr Jessop wanted to drive were to help secure a more stable job, have more freedom and be able to socialise with friends without relying on public transport.
"It’s frustrating because all my friends can drive as well, obviously I’m the last one left and it’s been that way for years because they all managed to get ahead of the curve," he says.
The 22-year old currently works as a cleaner, but says being able to drive would help him with securing acting jobs | Credit: James Jessop
The 22-year old currently works as a cleaner, but says being able to drive would help him with securing acting jobs | Credit: James Jessop
After a year of waiting, he managed to book another test at a centre nearly an hour away from his home in Market Deeping. After answering the 'show me, tell me' questions at the start of the test, the exam was disqualified due to a fault with his instructor's car.
He has now booked a third exam at a different centre but describes his previous test as being "not my fault, there's nothing I can literally do about it".
Confident he could pass the next test if he were given the opportunity, he says the experience has not made him want to give up just yet.
"I’m not going to give in, but it’s frustrating and it leaves you deflated.
"It puts a fire in the belly to pass it and do well but it is a lot of pressure to pass first time," he said.
What does it look like across the East of England?
A freedom of information request to the Driving Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has revealed that three out of four centres in the East of England have a wait time of five months or more, as of June.
At 21 centres, learners had to wait longer than the average in England of 19.1 weeks.
Test centres in Cambridgeshire all had a wait of six months, whereas five out of seven centres in Essex had a wait of five months or more.
Figures released to the AA by the DVSA in January and April through an FOI request show in some areas the wait has increased.
In Bedford, the wait increased from 10 weeks in January, to 18 weeks in April and now there is a backlog of 24 weeks. Whereas the backlog in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, was only one month at the start of year, and now, the backlog sits at a six month wait.
However, candidates wanting to sit tests in Stevenage, Norwich (Jupiter Road), Ipswich and Bishop's Stortford had to wait less than the national average, with Basildon and Loughton only having a two-week wait.
'If they fail it, they've got a long wait for another one'
Every Monday morning, Neil Emmerson waits in a virtual queue on the DVSA website to try to book practical driving tests for all his students.
Around 100 tests are made available at 06:00 and he says one morning, they had all gone within 17 minutes.
Neil Emmerson says test reselling is a "real problem" and learner drivers should take advice from their instructor to help find a cancellation | Credit: Neve Gordon-Farleigh/BBC
Neil Emmerson says test reselling is a "real problem" and learner drivers should take advice from their instructor to help find a cancellation | Credit: Neve Gordon-Farleigh/BBC
He said: "Only about 47% of people who take those tests actually pass so that creates a backlog because they are looking for another driving test so it just makes it really difficult for everybody involved within the driving trainer industry,"
The former police officer has worked as a driving instructor across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire for the last ten years. He believes it is important not just to teach his clients how to be test ready, but how to drive safely beyond the test.
He says the impact of the test backlog is not just stopping him take on new clients but knowing there is a long wait “adds pressure" on test day.
"As an instructor you try to calm their nerves on test day because it is a big thing... they definitely go into that test knowing that if they fail it, they've got a long wait for another one." He said.
'Driving lessons are not cheap these days because of the cost of living crisis'
In March, the DVSA announced they would introduce a new rule where learners will have to resit a test after 28 days, as opposed to the current 10-day wait – a rule which Mr Emmerson is not in favour of.
He said: "If you've got someone who's failed a driving test by a couple of faults, they're ready to take another test within 10, 11 days," he says
"It costs people money to do driving lessons and driving lessons are not cheap these days because of the cost of living crisis, it then means they've got to fork out more money and pay for more lessons," he said.
What is Neil's advice for passing your driving test?
'It’s incredibly tough right now if you’re a learner'
Camilla Benitz, managing director at the AA driving school, says it is "absolutely crucial that this backlog is tackled".
She said: "It’s incredibly tough right now, if you’re a learner and you’ve got these wait times of an average just over four months, there is a pass rate of around 48% right now.
"So on average you’re either waiting for, or taking a test and that’s going to take around 9 months on average to get there and that’s challenging for learners because people start to learn to drive normally with a deadline in mind," she said.
'We have to improve the backlog'
Ms Benitz says before Covid 35% of people under the age of 21 held a driving licence.
However recent data shows a decrease to just 21% and she believes this will "exacerbate skill shortages" and put a strain on British industry.
After writing to the Transport Minister and talking to the DVSA she understands there are a range of measures in place, but says "we have to improve the backlog".
She said: "We know the DVSA have put a range of measures in place and there is that commitment in recruiting more driving test examiners and bringing up the number of tests that are available and making sure that people are absolutely turning up for those tests as well."
The DVSA said waiting times were due to "an increase in demand, sustained industrial action on civil service pay and people's concerns about not being able to book a test, which has led to a change in customers' behaviour".
Loveday Ryder chief executive of the DVSA, says learners should only book their test when they are ready.
She said: "We are taking all the measures we can to reduce driving test waiting times, including recruiting almost 500 new driving examiners and creating more than one million new tests since 2021."
Although there is no date for when the 28 day resit rule will come into effect, the DVSA believe this will give candidates extra time to prepare and have a "positive impact" on waiting times.
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