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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the driving test system is becoming ridiculous and is harming the economy.

86 replies

HunterGatherer · 15/01/2022 15:43

Yes, I know there's a pandemic on but DS has had his driving test cancelled 3 times now Angry. He has been waiting for over a year (after failing his first test for going too slowly around a roundabout, his instructor who was in the car with him was aghast).
DS is a nurse and currently commutes to work via 2 trains. He frequently has to turn down bank shifts in (in desperately understaffed units) because he can't get there. Quite a few of his friends are in similar situations.
I'm sure other industries are suffering as well. FGS Boris, get your finger out and sort this problem out.

OP posts:
AuntArctic3000 · 15/01/2022 15:47

When he has a test booked has he tried one of the cancellation websites to try and bring his date forward? My son did this when his was cancelled by the test centre and got one for the following week. There is a fee to pay, think it was about £10 but worth it to not have to wait another 9 weeks until the date they offered him.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 15/01/2022 15:50

But what do you want them to do? They can't magic instructors and slots not of nowhere!

hibbledibble · 15/01/2022 15:50

Yanbu, I have heard this happening to NHS workers, meaning they may have to stop working, as the commute by public transport is too much (many hours in some cases).

We urgently need more capacity, or to at least prioritise key workers.

LemonCake79 · 15/01/2022 15:51

I completely agree @HunterGatherer, the Driving Standards Agency should have waiting time targets to meet like everyone else.

It was terrible when I passed 23 years ago but now it's just appalling. No one wants standards compromises but there needs to be more tests available.

Really feel for your DS.

LemonCake79 · 15/01/2022 15:55

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

But what do you want them to do? They can't magic instructors and slots not of nowhere!
Surely any long term strategic plan would have identified a post pandemic increase in demand? The DSA could have planned for that during the very first lockdown.
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 15/01/2022 15:57

@LemonCake79 yes - but there are only so many instructors, so many driving centres and so many slots for tests.

It's all very well saying "have a plan" but they can't just magic up driving examiners and test centres from nowhere.

I really do appreciate it's frustrating but when industries are forced to shutdown like that for months on end, a backlog of tests is inevitable, especially when there are constantly going to be new people wanting to learn as well.

gogohm · 15/01/2022 16:01

Yabu, my dd has taken 2 tests in the past year, failing the first. Yes she had to wait until early August for the first one (booked on the day the website reopened in April 21) but she got a retest in mid September when she failed first time. Most of her friends have past in the last 12 months too. Is it his instructor being difficult with availability?

MadisonAvenue · 15/01/2022 16:09

We had a test centre in our town which operated out of the community fire station. Even when my son took his test there in 2018 there was a 3 month wait. Then the ridiculous decision was taken to permanently close it (this was before the pandemic) and that’s now pushed all learners from this area onto other test centres, so waiting times were bad enough before the Covid backlog.

No idea why the DSA couldn’t recommence the service out of there, even temporarily, to help reduce the backlog.

Ariela · 15/01/2022 16:12

Half the problem is that people are desperately booking tests even though the new driver isn't ready for it. Hence the apparent slow supply, it's the fuel crisis all over again. However if you look fervently for cancellations these do come up quickly

Snowiscold · 15/01/2022 16:13

Has he tried using one of the apps? The website said there was no availability for driving tests in three months - I think they release 12 weeks at a time. But using the app she got one at her preferred test centre within four weeks.

WeAllHaveWings · 15/01/2022 16:23

If they did do something about it, I would assume they cant magic examiners from nowhere so would need to put in a system to prioritise instead of the current first come first served which would be a nightmare to manage.

It must be very area dependent, in our area, ds and his friends have had minor delays only but nothing drastic. They started turning 17 in Feb and 5 of them had lessons, theory tests, practical tests, a couple even had 2nd tests, passed before Christmas and had their license back in the post within a week. One of his friends failed again this week and already has another test booked for 2 weeks time. Only one has had a cancellation due to examiner availability.

user1471464218 · 15/01/2022 16:32

In Republic of Ireland, about 18 ? years ago there was a similar problem.....solved by letting learner drivers just drive! It was a bit more nuanced than that and you were obviously supposed to do your test...but I know a girl who didn't, moved to Northern Ireland, kept on driving (this was legal to my surprise!) for several years before doing the test in NI.

22Newnames · 15/01/2022 16:53

DS’s test was cancelled on the morning of his test and they immediately offered him another time within a few weeks. I believe that’s the usual process so I’m surprised your DS hasn’t been given another date immediately.

I understand the whole system is overstretched though but that is circumstantial due to COVID.

MananaTomorrow · 15/01/2022 17:05

What are those apps that allow you to find cancellations etc??

Snowiscold · 15/01/2022 17:20

@MananaTomorrow

What are those apps that allow you to find cancellations etc??
There are quite a few. DD used Drivingtestgenie, which worked well. Book a driving test anywhere in the country, any date - even if you have no intention of using it. Then through the app you can apply for a cancellation for a sooner slot or in your preferred centre. The app will search slots for you and notify you when there is one. You accept it and then cancel the random slot you booked. You can only apply for a cancellation if you have already booked a test somewhere.
woodhill · 15/01/2022 17:21

Haven't they made the theory test duration (being valid) shorter too

JuergenSchwarzwald · 15/01/2022 17:23

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

But what do you want them to do? They can't magic instructors and slots not of nowhere!
I do think they should have raised the age to 18 and also continued to give priority to people like the OP's ds.

Yes that would have created a backlog of 17 year olds but they'll get their chance.

iklboo · 15/01/2022 17:25

Instructors don't take pupils out on test. Examiners do - and they're trained differently. There's more people who want to be instructors than examiners. Even the DVLA couldn't 'plan ahead' to recruit & train more examiners. Especially as the pandemic shut everything down.

No idea why the DSA couldn’t recommence the service out of there, even temporarily, to help reduce the backlog.

Again, not enough examiners.

MananaTomorrow · 15/01/2022 17:25

Thank you @Snowiscold.
I suspect this is going to be handy next week (ds is having his driving test ….)

JuergenSchwarzwald · 15/01/2022 17:25

@woodhill

Haven't they made the theory test duration (being valid) shorter too
Not shorter but they refused to extend it beyond 2 years. And as you have to have passed it before you book your practical, that reduces its practical validity to about 18 months unless you can get an earlier test and pass quickly.

2 years seems like a long time but not during a pandemic when you can only get a test every 6 months, or not at all because it gets cancelled because you are ill or the examiner is ill or the instructor's car has a problem.

VickyEadieofThigh · 15/01/2022 17:28

@user1471464218

In Republic of Ireland, about 18 ? years ago there was a similar problem.....solved by letting learner drivers just drive! It was a bit more nuanced than that and you were obviously supposed to do your test...but I know a girl who didn't, moved to Northern Ireland, kept on driving (this was legal to my surprise!) for several years before doing the test in NI.
What could possibly go wrong...?
KrisAkabusi · 15/01/2022 17:28

@user1471464218

In Republic of Ireland, about 18 ? years ago there was a similar problem.....solved by letting learner drivers just drive! It was a bit more nuanced than that and you were obviously supposed to do your test...but I know a girl who didn't, moved to Northern Ireland, kept on driving (this was legal to my surprise!) for several years before doing the test in NI.
It might make you feel old, but the driving test amnesty in Ireland was in 1979!
GrazingSheep · 15/01/2022 17:29

@user1471464218
It was 43 years ago, not 18. It was in 1979.

SpindleyCrow · 15/01/2022 17:32

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

But what do you want them to do? They can't magic instructors and slots not of nowhere!
Is that what you seriously think the OP is asking to happen? For 'them' to perform magic?

Who are 'them', for a start - I assume you mean the machinery of, you know, government and governance? And that you're using 'magic' metaphorically?

Well yes, that is their job actually.

gorseinonn22 · 15/01/2022 17:34

There is a backlog. There should be a plan to tackle this, or to prioritise some people over others in a transparent way. Minimum age for the time being could be one, key workers another, those resident in rural areas a third.

However it should not be ignored and hope it goes away, and it should not be a postcode lottery.