We didn’t think it would be long until the DVSA would find something to blame for lengthy driving test waits. Why is it the fault of the credit crunch? Find out here…
Book Theory Test Today says: “It would appear that there’s an epidemic spreading across the UK as the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency struggle to cope with the demand for driving tests, leading to lengthy driving test waits. Recently, we informed you of extensive waiting times in Cambridge and across Norfolk, but don’t worry the DVSA knows why.â€
What’s to blame for lengthy driving test waits?
Is it the DVSA’s failure to recruit enough examiners? No. Is it down to their poor administration? No. In fact, it’s down to those learner drivers looking to save money during the credit crunch.
Yes, the DVSA says that some learner drivers face up to four months waiting for a test because there has been a surge in applicants who couldn’t afford to take driving lessons during the global recession.
According to the Automobile Association, the DVSA simply cannot cope with demand and is also suffering because of recent budget cuts, meaning less staff and fewer resources to deal with the ever increasing backlog, resulting in even more lengthy driving test waits.
A spokesperson for the AA said: “We’re witnessing a lot of posts popping up on social media from agitated learner drivers who simply want to get on with their working lives and experience the independence that driving brings.
However, they’re being held back by the incompetence of the DVSA. The DVSA has obviously been caught by a surge in demand that everyone else could see coming.â€
Lengthy driving test waits getting worse
Book Theory Test Today says: “Since our posts on the problems in Norfolk and Cambridge, details of other test centres facing lengthy driving test waits have emerged. Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Basingstoke are just some of the towns affected by a worsening backlog, with learner drivers in these locations facing waits of up to 18 weeks.â€
Chairman of the Milton Keynes Approved Driving Instructors Association, Derek Wormald, said: “The lengthy driving test waits are unprecedented. I’ve got pupils seeking to pass a test and they can’t even get a date. When you’re looking at waiting times exceeding a quarter-of-a-year, the situation becomes ridiculous.â€
Driving instructor in Basingstoke, Andy Maher, said: “A customer asked me to book a driving test on their behalf, but no dates were on offer. What’s worse is that the test centre only had one examiner on duty for some days, rather than the four that the centre has the capacity for.
The DVSA said there is an issue with lengthy driving test waits, but said this was a result of people now taking more driving lessons since the economy has recovered. In 2012, official statistics show that those holding provisional driving licences stood at 813,092. By 2014, the number had reached close to one million [938,765].
The DVSA also blamed lengthy driving test waits on a high volume of examiners retiring. Phil Lloyd, the DVSA’s head of operations, said: “We are in the process of recruiting more examiners.â€
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