The Chair of the Transport Committee, Ruth Cadbury MP, has written to the Government demanding further details on its strategy to tackle the long-standing delays in driving test availability.

This follows an evidence session in December 2024, during which MPs questioned the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Chief Executive, Loveday Ryder, Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood MP, and a number of witnesses from other agencies, including driver training and road safety organisations.

We’re waiting

Central to the concerns raised in the letter is the concern over the lack of sufficient measures to significantly reduce driving test waiting times.

In December 2024, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced a set of actions aimed at addressing the issue, but MPs remain sceptical about their effectiveness.

Key questions raised by the Committee include whether the recruitment target of 450 additional driving examiners is a new commitment or a restatement of a previous promise.

The Committee also seeks assurances on how the DVSA plans to make the role of a driving examiner more attractive, given persistent recruitment and retention challenges.

 

 

Safety and inconsistency

Concerns were also raised over the resale of driving test slots by third-party operators, with the Committee pressing for clarity on any legislative measures being considered to clamp down on this practice.

MPs are seeking an explanation for the wide variation in pass rates across different test centres.

Freedom of Information requests reveal that candidates in some areas are up to 15 times more likely to pass than candidates in others.

It believes that such inconsistencies raise serious questions about testing standards.

This is particularly troubling in light of UK road safety statistics. In 2023, government figures showed that young drivers aged 17-24 were involved in 22% of all road traffic accidents, despite representing only 7% of total drivers.

A more consistent and rigorous testing system could improve these statistics.

Mounting Backlog and Examiner Shortages

Further statistics paint a concerning picture of the backlog crisis.

Media reports indicate that some learners are waiting over six months for a test slot, with waiting times exceeding 24 weeks in many areas.

Meanwhile, examiner recruitment struggles continue, with reports suggesting the DVSA has repeatedly failed to meet hiring targets due to pay constraints and organisational challenges.

Assurances on safety

With 1,695 road fatalities reported in 2023, there is mounting pressure on the DVSA and the Government to ensure that learners have adequate access to tests without compromising testing standards.

Research by Brake, a UK road safety charity, has highlighted that delayed licensing can lead to unlicensed and potentially unsafe driving practices among frustrated learners.

 

 

Time for action

Ruth Cadbury MP stressed the urgency of the situation, stating:
“MPs from across the country and across the House of Commons know from listening to their constituents that getting a grip of the DVSA must be a priority for the Government. People’s lives can’t be kept on hold while waiting absurd amounts of time to take a driving test they’ve paid through the nose for. This Committee will push for regular updates and detailed plans from DfT until this saga is resolved.”

Other issues highlighted in the letter include the effectiveness of the ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign, the potential need to review test fees, and concerns over the safety of DVSA staff following reports of assaults, including sexual offences.

The Committee is calling for bi-monthly updates from the Government on waiting times, recruitment efforts, and progress in modernising the test booking system.

With learner drivers facing long waits to secure a test, the pressure is mounting on the Government to deliver a clear and decisive plan to address the crisis—before both learner safety and public confidence in the DVSA are further eroded.