Testing time for learner drivers
Struggle to re-book after lockdown cancellations
New drivers hoping to sit their test struggled to book a slot at the Hamilton test centre when bookings reopened after lockdown.
Despite Scotland allowing driving tests to resume much later than the rest of the UK, they are using the same queuing system online which has left many local candidates unable to reserve a place in Hamilton.
Learners have been made to wait hours just to access the online portal, only to find their next available slot is six weeks away in a different location.
This has been the same for those whose tests were cancelled due to the pandemic prohibiting tests to take place since March.
However, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency ( DVSA) gave provision for cancelled tests allowing them first pick – but their chosen location was not available, leaving them having to sit their driving test elsewhere.
Hamilton councillor and driving instructor Davie Mclachlan says the system has failed, leaving an unacceptable situation for young learners.
He told the Advertiser: “The situation has not been great. I had three learners who had tests booked right at the start of lockdown, so their tests were postponed.
“We were given assurances by the DVSA that they would be given priority.
“Tests start back on the 14th, but the earliest I could book for them was in Anniesland on October 16 which is really disappointing and unacceptable.
“We are well behind England as far as starting back driving lessons and tests. The Scottish Government have delayed it unnecessarily as far as I can see because our Covid numbers are much lower than England.
“The system used to book tests is just the one system for the whole of the UK, so when new tests were issued people from all over were logging in and queuing to book a test.
“One of my students when I contacted her was 107,000th in the queue, just to get access to the system, so the chances of her getting a test seemed pretty remote.
“People were encouraged, when they were open, to consider booking a test at a centre outwith your own.
“She saw one in Anniesland and out of pure desperation she went ahead and booked that.
“She told me she took it just to get on to the system.
“I think driving-wise we should have been treated the same as the rest of the UK and been able to sit driving tests at the same time.
“It has made life difficult for instructors and learners. It’s just unacceptable. The system has failed.”
One learner trying to book a test shared her frustration.
She said: “I was just below 30,000th in the queue at 8am and got through just after 11am. There were only a few slots available and I managed to book for October.
“The frustration is that the queues are so long because England and
Wales are using the same gateway.”
Another local experienced issues helping his son to book a test.
He added: “His test was cancelled. He was notified about priority booking his new date but there were no options showing his chosen test centre (Hamilton). It’s a scandal.
“Advice from DVSA to book at an alternative test centre is pretty shabby and would incur further costs for many people.”
The DVSA confirmed emails were sent to those eligible for priority booking, however the resumption of driving tests has been met with several challenges.
A DVSA spokesperson told the Advertiser:“There are limits to the number of tests available and reasons for that are firstly because of social distancing regulations.
“We are also still prioritising key workers. But the third most significant challenge is at the moment we are only releasing tests six weeks in advance which is rolling every week.
“On September 14 we released tests for the next 18 weeks, removing the six-week restriction – that will make around 375,000 tests available across Great Britain, which could pick up a lot of the demand.
“The reason people have had difficulty recently is the backlog of five months where tests weren’t taking place causing a pent- up demand.
“This meant that we had to introduce a queuing system.
“There is a finite number of tests per test centre and therefore it is possible that you may not get a test at the test centre of your choice.
“For tests cancelled, you will get the opportunity to book a new driving test, but we can’t guarantee that it will be in the same centre at which the test was cancelled.”