Hire more testers now!

NEW laws that will see drivers fined or even imprisoned if they are caught allowing learners to drive their cars while unaccompanied are expected to lead to an upsurge in demand for driving tests.

The predicted backlog is so great that applicants could wait up to 68 weeks for a test appointment, a situation that clearly would be chaotic, with demand hitting close to an estimated 150,000 extra tests.

It is vital that driving skills are assessed and certified. There are numerous accidents involving learners driving while unaccompanied, and it is correct that the existing law to stop this is strengthened and enforced. That said, waiting times of over a year are unacceptable. The Government must hire more testers to cope with demand.