Learner drivers in Dorset forced to wait 24 weeks for a test

New statistics from the Taxpayers Alliance show the national average waiting time for a practical car driving test is currently just over 17 weeks or almost four months.

Learners in Dorset however are forced to wait even longer at 24 weeks for tests at centres in Dorchester and Poole. 

This is higher than the average wait time across the whole of the south west, which stands at 20 weeks. 

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the average waiting time for a test in the UK was around six weeks, according to figures from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). 

Lockdown caused a massive backlog of learners waiting to take their test. This is not coming down as many ill-prepared learners are taking their tests prematurely. 

Katie Wall, a driving instructor based in Weymouth, said: "I feel that the backlog of Covid was inevitable, however the mishandling of it has caused panic over driving tests meaning people are booking them earlier and earlier.

"This means that when that driving test comes around, the learner isn't ready so they either A) take it knowing they aren't ready which if they fail is a wasted test or B ) they don't turn up.

Katie Wall, driving instructor for BSM driving school (Image: Katie Wall) "I feel that the DVSA should give out test codes to instructors, which allow a person onto the gov website to book a test. This way, anyone going to test would be ready and I believe will reduce wait times."

The long wait means that some people have even been put off learning to drive altogether due to the costs of having to keep up their lessons so that they don't forget the skill. 

Kitty Hart, who lives in Dorchester, said: "Considering I would have no one to practice with other than an instructor, I know waiting a long time for a test would mean paying for more lessons and it being a more expensive endeavour overall."

Martyn Bagwell, of Bagwell School of Motoring in Dorchester, said: "The wait times are completely ridiculous. The extra pressure put on the student is horrendous and can really affect their mindset. I believe there should be a postcode selection where students from local postcodes should be able to test at a local test centre.

"The pressure also is on the examiner and the extra hours they do must be exhausting. I sympathise with all involved. As an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) it is so hard to juggle lessons, making sure commitment to current students and those waiting is fair.

"I feel a commitment to the end with my students and if they fail on one mistake it can be six months before they get another test. It is unrealistic for them to keep lessons going this length of time and extremely expensive."

When this was put to the DVSA, the Echo received the following response from, Loveday Ryder, CEO of DVSA.

She said: “In the past financial year alone, we’ve provided almost two million car practical driving tests. I was delighted to meet the Transport Secretary in September to discuss our plans to increase the number of tests we make available by recruiting more examiners, and tackling bots and those exploiting learners. 
 
“DVSA wants to see more learners passing first time. That’s why we’re working with the driver training industry to educate and advise learners on what they can do to prepare better and improve their likelihood of passing."

A further statement from DVSA read: "Car practical test waiting times remain long owing to an increase in demand and low customer confidence in driving test availability, resulting in a change in customers’ booking behaviour.  

"DVSA continues to take measures to increase test availability. These include the recruitment of driving examiners, conducting tests outside regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays and buying back annual leave from driving examiners. In response to increased demand,  

"DVSA has reviewed its recruitment process and increased its drive to recruit 450 extra examiners. The agency expects the first new entrant examiners to begin conducting driving tests in January 2025. "