Driving tests available for learners despite demand

HUGE BACKLOG FOR LEARNER DRIVERS AFTER COVID PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS

LEARNER drivers will have to wait for an average of 14 weeks before being able to take their driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has revealed.

The news comes after a learner driver insurance company, Veygo, reported last week that it was unable to find any driving tests available at almost 75 per cent of centres across the UK, including no tests being available in Leicestershire.

However, the DVSA has disputed this, saying that driving test bookings are a “dynamic situation” and that thousands of tests are available across the country, including some in Leicestershire.

Originally, Veygo looked into booking tests at the 337 testing centres across the UK, finding that 250 of them had no appointments available, and 51 out of the remainder did not have any available until November.

But while this may have been the case at the time, the DVSA says it is stepping up efforts to increase the capacity of tests available by 20,000 every single day, saying that 29,330 tests were available as of Friday. It also added that some of those tests were available at Leicestershire test centres, based at Hinckley, Leicester, Wigston, Loughborough and Melton.

The huge demand for driving tests is due to 450,000 being cancelled due to the pandemic, with the DVSA having to handle a massive backlog of drivers as well as the usual demand for tests from new learners and those who failed their previous test.

The DVSA says the average waiting time for driving tests stands at 14 weeks, which means anyone who books a test now would not be able to take it until the beginning of October.

The DVSA says it is increasing the number of tests by offering overtime and “annual leave buy back” to driving examiners and also asking other qualified examiners who are not currently working in the field to come back and start examining again. It is also conducting out of hours testing, such as over the weekend and on bank holidays, as well as looking to recruit an additional 300 examiners.

Learner drivers are able to book a test up to the start of December.

If no tests are available at the time of looking, you are advised to keep going back and checking, as cancellations and rescheduling will free up more tests at short notice, as well as new tests being added to the system when possible.

DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder said: “We are doing all we can to provide as many tests as possible so we can get our services back to normal. I know learners will be keen to take their test now, but it is important that candidates are properly prepared and don’t rush to take it.

“With more than half of candidates failing, and demand currently extremely high for tests, learners should only take their test when they are confident they can pass.

“This will help them to avoid a lengthy wait for a retest and help us by not adding to the backlog of tests.”

THE A50 between Leicester and Coalville is to be shut overnight for seven weeks this summer.

Resurfacing work will be taking place along Markfield Road, Bradgate Hill, Wallace Drive and Lena Drive in Groby.

This will require closures between 8pm and 6am each night, starting from August 2.

While the route is open, there will be speed restrictions in force during the daytime.

Work will last for up to seven weeks, the council said.

Leicestershire County Council said in a statement about the closure: “A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) is to be made for Markfield Road, Bradgate Hill, Wallace Drive and Lena Drive in Groby.

“The purpose of the TTRO is to allow Leicestershire County Council to facilitate carriageway resurfacing, traffic signals upgrade and any other associated work to the highway.

“The TTRO will incorporate temporary road closures and speed restrictions. The duration of the restriction is not anticipated to exceed a period of seven weeks commencing on August 2.”