Military driving examiners deployed to tackle test backlog

Learner drivers have been left exasperated by the long wait times for tests, but this could change after the government announced it will bring in military driving examiners to cut the backlog.

Britain’s driving tests were ground to a halt during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and five years on, it is still having an impact on learners.

In London, the wait times are thought to now be nearly six months, while elsewhere in the country learners face a 20-month wait on average for a test slot.

Third-party websites have been accused of using bots to scoop up any available slots and selling them at a primium, often leaving desperate learners with no choice but to dish out double the money a test would normally cost through the official government website.

The race for the slots has been described as stressful as trying to score Glastonbury tickets.

Now the Department for Transport has announced it will deploy military driving test examiners to help ease the backlog.

Up to 6,500 additional tests will be available over the next year at the driving test centres with the highest demand.

New limits will also be introduced to restrict how many times learner drivers can make changes to the test booking before it must be cancelled and rebooked, which could help release more tests for others to use.

Only learners will be able to book their own test, which means third parties will be banned from booking a test on behalf of learners in a bid to make the system fairer, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.

Under the new system, learners will only have to pay the official DVSA fee – £62 on weekdays and £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

She said: ‘We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L-Plates, who have been sadly forced to endure record waiting times for their tests. Every learner should have an equal and fair opportunity to take a test.

‘We’re taking decisive action, and these new measures will deliver thousands of extra tests over the next year, helping learners get on the road sooner. This will ease pressure on the system, removing barriers to opportunity and supporting economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.’

The military driving examiners, who are not military personnel but civil servants employed by the military, usually specialise in testing soldiers and their ability to drive cars, fuel tankers and armoured carriers.

Al Carns, the minister for the armed forces, said the deployment will have no negative impact on military operations as part of the project estimated to cost £100,000.

Carns said: ‘The Armed Forces and civilians working within the Ministry of Defence have always been ready to step up when the country needs them – and this is another example of that commitment in action.

‘Our military driving examiners bring skill and professionalism from testing Service personnel to prepare them for some of the toughest conditions imaginable.

‘By supporting civilian testing, they’re helping to get more learners on the road, keep Britain moving, and deliver for the public.’

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