Worrying new data from the BBC reveals that driving examiners are facing serious levels of abuse from learners, invariably after learning they have failed their driving test.

According to the BBC’s data, there were over 1,600 cases of verbal abuse and 70 physical attacks made against examiners between April 2020 and March 2025.

While body cams are now worn by examiners during tests, for those who have fallen foul of abusive learner behaviour, such tech likely offers cold comfort.

Horror stories

For instance, there are several shocking anecdotes that reveal just how bad the level of abuse is – from being chased across car parks and punched to actual death threats.

“I was carrying out a test for someone who wanted to be a taxi driver, when I delivered the result and it was a failure, he became very abusive, got out of the car, faced up against me and followed me down the street. If I’d have reacted it could have escalated, it was a worrying experience.”

• Gary, driving examiner to the BBC

Evasive action

To avoid any chance of a direct confrontation if a learner fails their test, the DIA no longer gives the result at the end of the test. Instead, it emails the result 24 hours later.

This is a smart move but the DIA only conducts advanced tests for private hire and taxi drivers – so what more can the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) do to protect its examiners serving the British public?

The agency says it has a zero tolerance policy towards bad behaviour and is considering marking the records of learners who are abusive and placing restrictions on them when they come to take their next test.

Penalties include making offenders wait longer to get another test or even having two examiners in the test car to increase examiner safety. Whatever the DVSA does decide on in the future, measures to stop such disgusting behaviour – and provide full protection for the UK’s invaluable examiners – can’t come soon enough.

“Although the majority of people are courteous, we employ a number of measures which seek to keep our examiners safe and shielded from abuse. Our message is clear – whatever has happened, don’t take it out on our staff. If you do, we’ll press for the strongest possible penalties.”

DVSA spokesperson to the BBC

Know Your Code

Double your chances of theory test success with Theory Test Pro. Sign up for free here.

Image by Google Gemini