{"id":3206,"date":"2020-11-16T11:59:06","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T11:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/?p=3206"},"modified":"2020-11-16T11:59:07","modified_gmt":"2020-11-16T11:59:07","slug":"driving-test-cancellations-northern-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.booktheorytesttoday.com\/blog\/driving-test-cancellations-northern-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving Test Cancellations Announced in Northern Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Driving<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you had a driving test booked in Northern Ireland, it might be cancelled. It\u2019s been brought to our attention that there have been nearly 1,000 driving test cancellations in Northern Ireland after coronavirus restrictions were further extended. Here\u2019s what we know\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

There have been 950 driving test cancellations announced in Northern Ireland by the Department for Infrastructure. Driving tests, and other close contact services, will now resume on 21 November after coronavirus restrictions in the country were further extended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving instructor, Kay Bell, who\u2019s based in Dundonald said that four of her pupils have had their driving test cancelled leaving them \u2018disappointed and extremely frustrated\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Driving Test Cancellations  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Driving tests in Northern Ireland had only resumed in September having been cancelled due to March\u2019s lockdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lessons, theory tests<\/a> and driving tests were again suspended in October, when the Northern Ireland executive announced new COVID-19 restrictions that would last for four weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministers in Northern Ireland have now voted to extend those restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department for Infrastructure said: \u201cTo provide capacity for those customers who have had tests cancelled, the DVA is creating \u2018additional slots\u2019 in late November, December and January.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DVA in Northern Ireland has said that it will make all of February 2021\u2019s test slots exclusively available to those who have had tests cancelled because of coronavirus restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candidates Contacted by DVA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the Department for Infrastructure, the DVA has contacted approximately 950 candidates about driving test cancellations affecting those who had tests scheduled between 14 \u2013 20 November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spokesperson said: \u201cCandidates have been advised that their test is being cancelled and they will receive a full refund. The DVA will be in contact with those customers again week commencing 16 November with advice on how they can book a new driving test appointment<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department said that a preliminary date of 21 November has been chosen to allow candidates time to access some tuition prior to taking their driving test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving Lesson Backlog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The stop-start resumption of driving tests is now causing a driving lesson backlog, with some instructors reporting waiting lists as long as nine months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kay Bell said: \u201cUntil cancelled tests are taken, I\u2019m unable to move my current students on to allow for the next group of learners. There\u2019s only so many hours in the day and there\u2019s only so much driving you can get done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belfast<\/a>-based driving instructor, Paul Scott, said that four of his students have also been hit by driving test cancellations between 17 and 20 November. He said that one of his learners has had their test cancelled three times since April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Scott said: \u201cThey\u2019re not feeling very happy, they\u2019re pretty shocked; particularly as we\u2019ve had that four-week gap so a lot of them are possibly a little bit rusty in their skills. It demoralises them and knocks their confidence a bit, we will struggle to get them back up to speed again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book Your Northern Ireland Driving Test With Us<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been affected by driving test cancellations in Northern Ireland, you can use our service to book your test. Here\u2019s the value of using Book Theory Test Today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n