Pressure on learners to ace first test
LEARNER drivers may have to wait months until they can get their P-plates as examiners work though the backlogs caused by COVID-19 shutdowns.
From June 15 practical driving tests will resume, following a two-month postponement of all testing due to social distancing measures.
More than 28,000 learners from south east Queensland had their bookings cancelled in late March and will be given priority before new bookings can be made.
Steve White, from Chevron Island Driving School said the situation put a lot of pressure on learners to pass the first time.
“If they fail they could be waiting months to make another booking,” Mr White said.
A driving instructor for more than 18 years, Mr White said he has never seen so many disappointed students.
“If someone had told me six months ago driving tests were going to be cancelled for two months I would have laughed because that would cause huge delays, but here we are,” he said.
“Before, the wait was already four to six weeks, but they are putting on more staff so who knows how long it will take.”
Mr White said there had been a lot of confusion around whether instructors were allowed to work during the shutdown, and what happens now.
“I first heard about the reopening of testing over the radio, we weren’t told first so there is still a lot to be ironed out. I feel for anyone in Grade 12 right now, excited about leaving school, no formals, can’t get their P’s licence and facing the possibility of Schoolies being cancelled.”
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said new measures would be in place to ensure examiners and learner drivers were safe.
“New driving examiners are being brought on board and tests will be conducted six days a week to help catch up on the number of learner drivers whose tests were suspended,” he said.
Mr Bailey said a booking process would be introduced to prioritise learner drivers who had their tests suspended due to the pandemic, and those who urgently needed their P-plates for economic, health and job reasons.