With average waiting times for a driving test now standing at 20.4 weeks, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is taking a dramatic step to increase testing slots by 150,000.

It is moving 230 staff who have testing abilities – but currently work elsewhere within the organisation – back to the frontline.

Temporary fix

The move is temporary with staff only transferring to support the additional examining slots over the next six months. The new slots began being drip fed into the booking system on 4 October with fresh batches set to be introduced every fortnight.

However, because 230 staff are being taken away from their back office duties, you should expect some disruption to the DVSA’s other services. The agency has said it will aim to keep any disruptions to a minimum.

Why the long wait?

The reason for long driving test waiting times is not down to a single issue – but a wide range of problems. These include:

  • An increase in demand for driving tests – up from roughly 400,000 learners before the pandemic to the current 550,000
  • Industrial action taken by driving examiners in recent months, which has seen around 25,000 tests being canceled or rebooked
  • Learners booking tests much earlier as they’re worried about not being able to book a test for a date that suits them.

Actions already taken

The staff transfer is the latest in a long line of incentives introduced by the agency to drive down waiting times. Other measures have included:

  • Recruiting new driving examiners
  • Carrying out tests at weekends and on public holidays
  • Asking driving test managers to return to examining for two days a week
  • Inviting recently retired driving examiners to come back to work and help out.

Thumbs up

The move has been welcomed by NASP, the official body for driving instructors. It stated: “With the national average waiting time for tests currently standing at 20 weeks, it is our view that the additional slots will have a significant impact on waiting times and will help alleviate pressure on DVSA, instructors and pupils alike.

“We will continue to meet regularly with DVSA to monitor the impact of these and other measure the agency is undertaking to combat test waiting times.”

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