Wed, 23 Apr 2025

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 Minister pledges 10,000 extra driving tests a month to clear backlog

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the government would provide at least 10,000 extra driving tests a month.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced plans to reduce waiting times for learner drivers in England, aiming to clear the backlog by next summer. To achieve this goal, the government will provide at least 10,000 extra driving tests per month and increase training capacity for driving examiners. The current wait time of over five months is "totally unacceptable", Alexander said. A new target has been set to reduce average waiting times to seven weeks by summer 2026, eight months later than the original deadline. The government will consult on changes to the test booking system to tackle delays caused by an increase in demand and automated software (test booking bots) that can rapidly book appointments. These bots have led to resold driving test slots at inflated prices. In addition, Alexander has announced plans to reintroduce overtime pay incentives for driving examiners and ask qualified DVSA staff who are not currently examining to temporarily return to the frontline. The measures aim to support learner drivers like Millie Moyler, who has been waiting almost 18 months for a test slot.
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