3 days Ago By [email protected] (Sophie Buchan)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has revealed that it has set out a plan to reduce driving test waiting times. The seven-point plan addresses the issue when it comes to the test booking system and aims to stop learner drivers from being ripped off. In order to achieve this target, the experts are set to recruit and train 450 driving examiners across the country.
According to GOV.UK , the DVSA is continuing to recruit and is currently training candidates who will begin doing driving tests over the coming months. As well as recruiting the 450 new examiners, the DVSA has set out the following in its plan.
In addition to training drivers, the DVSA will review and improve the driving test booking system to ensure learners can book it stress free. To do this, DVSA will follow these steps: Launch a call for evidence about the current rules and processes, which DVSA has done this week Analyse the evidence and develop proposals to improve the rules and booking system. Run a consultation on the proposed improved rules.
Introduce the improved rules - changing the law if necessary. As well as this, the third step in the plan is to "introduce a set of tougher terms and conditions for the service driving instructors use to book and manage driving tests for their pupils". Coming into force on January 6 of next year, it sets out that only driving instructors or businesses that employ driving instructors can use the service to book car driving tests.
The DVSA says: "The new terms and conditions make it clear that driving instructors and businesses must not book driving tests on behalf of learner drivers they are not teaching. They also stop driving instructors and businesses from using a learner driver’s details to book a driving test that they have no intention of that particular learner driver using. This is sometimes done to create a placeholder so the test can be swapped to another learner driver later.
" If anyone breaks the terms and conditions, DVSA can: In the fourth point, the DVSA said it will will also run a consultation on new proposals to increase the amount of time people have to wait to book another test if they either: "Learner drivers currently have to wait 10 working days before being able to book another test. The consultation, which will launch at a later date, will set out the full details of the potential options," it adds. In the fifth point, the DVSA is also set to increase the amount of notice people need to give to change or cancel their car driving test without losing their fee to 10 clear working days, with it currently set at three clear working days.
While the exact date has not been confirmed, they hope to introduce this from spring 2025. This change will: It says: "Learner drivers will still be able to apply for a refund in cases such as illness or bereavement. DVSA will continue to pay out-of-pocket expenses for any car driving tests it cancels with fewer than 3 clear working days’ notice while it conducts a review of its out-of-pocket expenses process.
" The DVSA will look into how they can change how far ahead car driving tests can be booked with it currently set at 24 weeks. "DVSA will continue to run its ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign, which 95% of users rate as useful, to encourage learner drivers to take the right action to prepare for their driving test," the experts said. "Research from DVSA shows that about 23% of learner drivers take their first attempt at the driving test within one month of starting driving lessons.
The campaign aims to change this behaviour, and focuses on helping learner drivers to: "The actions being taken will help DVSA to provide 1.95 million car driving tests between April 2024 and March 2025 and to reduce the waiting time to 7 weeks by December 2025. Both of these targets have been confirmed in the DVSA business plan for 2024 to 2025 .
" Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, said: "Passing your driving test is a life-changing opportunity for millions – but sky-high waiting times for tests in recent years have denied that opportunity to too many people. "No one should have to wait 6 months when they’re ready to pass, travel to the other side of the country to take a driving test or be ripped off by unscrupulous websites just because they can’t afford to wait. "The scale of the backlog we have inherited is huge, but today’s measures are a crucial step to tackle the long driving test wait times, protect learner drivers from being exploited, and support more people to hit the road.
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