Furious with driving test been cancelled again

[Frustrated456]

Really angry to see that driving tests have been cancelled and rather be starting on 12th April it is now 22 April so that means bloody driving test cancelled. What the hell DVSA.

@Shitfuckcommaetc

The worst bit is that they are refusing to extend the validity of the theory test. So many people will have to pay and take the theory test again through no fault of their own. That's really unfair!!

I agree, it’s completely unfair. There’s no reason why they couldn’t waive the charge for a retest if they’re determined that a retest is necessary. Especially as many of the people affected by this will be students who’ve already had their first year of university screwed up and are paying for accommodation they haven’t been allowed to use.

I’m not sure how they expect people in that age bracket ever to believe that their government gives a shit about them.

It is frustrating, I'm trying to book a test too.

Our local one is open between 8:45 and 1:35 - Monday to Friday. If, only, they could open from 8am - 8pm and do Saturdays and Sundays 9-5 it would help massively!!

On the other hand, I think they're recruiting more examiners in areas so hopefully this can happen!

Though just two people, in a car, masked and with decent ventilation I don’t see why driving lessons & tests can’t start again

Teens instructor caught Covid so, despite it being his livelihood, he understands why they can’t start again.

I can understand your frustration OP.

My son's instructor has sensibly said he won't take on new pupils until August. Personally I think they should temporarily raise the age to 18 to help deal with the backlog.

What I would say is you can't have a test on 12th April after no lessons (unless you've been practising during the lockdown but there was some confusion about whether you could even practice with your parents) so there probably needs to be a lag between lessons restarting and tests restarting. Not sure 10 days is actually enough, but it is better than nothing at all.

I passed in March last year just before lockdown - I know if I hadn’t I probably would have given up trying.

I hope you get your test and pass ASAP.

And what a great idea it would be for instructors to be able to pass students - maybe not their own but other instructors’ students to make it fair.

@Shitfuckcommaetc

The worst bit is that they are refusing to extend the validity of the theory test. So many people will have to pay and take the theory test again through no fault of their own. That's really unfair!!

Yes this is really unfair. People say you can't be on the roads with an older theory test because it will be dangerous but that's nonsense, there are millions of drivers who never did a theory test, as well as those who did but did it years ago.

I also think it puts extra pressure on candidates - you know if you fail you may be waiting months for another test date so it makes the test even more high stakes than it usually is.

In all fairness it has been easier to pass where I live due to less traffic. I live near three tricky roundabouts that are usually chocka with commuter traffic but haven’t been for almost a year.

eveningoverrooftops you say it's just 2 people in a car... but examiners and driving instructors have numerous candidates throughout the day. They aren't allowed to enforce mask wearing, and you're in incredibly close proximity to someone who's word you would have to take that they are in good health.
My DP is an examiner and someone in their test centre caught covid after a candidate came on test whilst waiting for the results of a covid test.

Jeez there's some vipers around today! @Frustrated456 completely understandable to be annoyed by this all. I've had mine cancelled and rebooked and all in if I manage to pass first time (which I really need to as I am going to have my baby not long after my rebooked test!) it's going to have been a total of 18 months from first lesson to passing all because of covid and it's cost me way more in lessons too because of the big gaps putting me back over as I haven't had any practise for months on end

@lovelychops

eveningoverrooftops you say it's just 2 people in a car... but examiners and driving instructors have numerous candidates throughout the day. They aren't allowed to enforce mask wearing, and you're in incredibly close proximity to someone who's word you would have to take that they are in good health. My DP is an examiner and someone in their test centre caught covid after a candidate came on test whilst waiting for the results of a covid test.

That's not true, if you aren't wearing a mask and didn't declare when booking your test that you are medically excempt then they will not take you for your test

I really sympathise with you. It is so frustrating and really dismissive of people to say that it’s not a big deal, will only take a few days, focus on poverty etc. How do you think people drag themselves out of poverty? Better jobs and education, which often require transport! And it’s not just an issue affecting young people. I’m a parent in my thirties and I luckily passed my test on Christmas Eve last year. I couldn’t afford driving lessons when I was younger. Bloody good job I did because we had no income at all for months last year and I managed to get a new job but I do need to be able to get there. It took me ages to get to the test - my first driving instructor had to take a break due to a bereavement and couldn’t get anybody else, so then had to catch up. Then he retired and I had to wait six months to get in with somebody else and it was like I was starting all over again. Then covid hit just as I was thinking of booking a test. Every break I had meant booking more lessons to get back up to scratch. My test was rearranged and finally managed to pass it on Christmas Eve and I’m so bloody glad because everything closed down again not long after. Then my theory would have run out and it’d be months of waiting to even get another theory, paying out more in practical lessons to keep up to the correct standard, and more months of waiting to get a practical test. It’s taken me about three years to pass my test as it stands. If I had failed the Christmas Eve test or had it cancelled, I could easily see it being another year until I passed taking into account the wait for a theory test and then a practical test.

I think the people acting like this is a mild inconvenience have no idea of the waits involved right now or the fact that theory tests haven’t been extended to take into account people who’s practical tests have been cancelled and then their theory tests have run out. They are releasing tests in batches every few weeks and you have to wait in a queue of thousands to see whether you can get a test date. If you don’t get one you have to keep repeating it until you do. It’s not as simple as waiting a few days.

Yes obviously people can say they're medically exempt but they don't have to be forced to prove it.

As it stands at the moment a driving examiner can volunteer to take a candidate out who isn't wearing a mask, but it's down to the individual examiner. If your test centre doesn't have an examiner willing to take those out without masks then there isn't much you can do for now.

I feel your pain, OP. Our son could have passed at least six months ago. He is getting plenty of practice going to and from work with one of us in the car with him. We both work full time (me on longer shifts actually AT work) and on top of the 24 mile round trip each time, we are a little tired now.

exhausted forever what's not true sorry I don't understand?

Those saying that current driving instructors could step up and help out with driving exams, its just not the same job.
You have to have extensive training to be an examiner, and being a driving instructor previously isn't a prerequisite. There are tons of god awful instructors who have no place putting their candidates in for a test, let alone having the authority to pass them in a driving exam !!!
I know it's massively frustrating for people but it's important to have competent drivers on the road, for everyone's safety

This was my attempt to book a test in September last year, it took 5 hours to get to the front of the virtual queue and by that time the only test I could book was for Jan this year! Shows just how big the backlog was.

Luckily we managed to get a cancellation and ds passed his test in early December.

Make sure you sign the petition on theory test extention - worth a try. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/558160

Also, it would be illegal for a current instructor to be given the job of examiner... its a massive conflict of interests for a start..

My theory test got cancelled last March, I rebooked in July and the earliest date I could get was end of October !

Elsaesmerelda - apparently there's a massive back log of tests they have to get through. I think you've done well to get booked in for October, good luck for then 👍

@lovelychops sorry I meant last year ! I did pass though 👍🏻

Elsaesmerelda, yay !!!!

I've also got a fed up teenager here. My DD's theory test has been cancelled 5 times now, fingers crossed for May!

I know it is not the most important thing in the world but try telling that to a teenager who is desperate to drive. Plus mix in A level mocks looming, having to decide where to go to university with only online open days and turning 18 in lockdown. The year 13's are having a tough time, as many others are. With the back log of driving tests realistically I don't know if she will be driving before I wave her off to university.

@Shitfuckcommaetc check with your insurance company as Marmalade are refunding the theory test fee if it has lapsed whilst trying to book your driving test. I think the DVLA should extend the length of time before the theory test expires, say 9/12 months.