To think the government need to pull their fingers out of their backsides with regards to driving tests?

[NotTonightDeidre]

DS has a test booked for the end of October. It was the earliest test we could get after he passed his theory.

He's ready to take his practical test now (has been for a few weeks) but I can't get an earlier test for love nor money!

Except that's a lie - if I'm willing to shell out over the odds or pay to sign up to an app, I might get a test sooner! But, I refuse to become part of the problem.

I've seen several slots come up, but, every time I click to book the slot is taken! No doubt by a goddamn sniper app.

Why are the government allowing this BS to continue? They're quick to block my access to the booking site because I manually refreshed the screen a dozen times, but yet the bots can book multiple slots!!

This won't get better until the powers that be put a stop to unscrupulous companies making a fast profit on selling tests at an inflated rate. And stop the apps.

I get there's a backlog. Recruitment & retention issues with driving instructors. However the lack of action against questionable bookings is only compounding the issue.

If only ranting on mumsnet could expedite the process.

No, it is because they have all signed up to the net zero agenda. I don't know why people can't see this.

@RealOliveTraybake

It's relevant to the poster because her young person can't just go with the flow and take any old test. Therefore she is already disadvantage by this scramble cancellation system we are currently in.

ND people need to know where there test will be so they can get familiar Test nerves are bad enough but add all that pressure and a ND person just can't do it. The pressure isn't there for normal driving. You can take a break. Use a sat nav listen to music what ever helps you drive well.

My dd is a fab little driver but she has failed 3 times because she has had to change towns for every test. We are now trying her preferred place but have waited 6 months for the slot She had a short break from lessons but she is insured with me and I feel very safe with her.

(Unlike my son who drives too fast and is not ready imo to pass)

@RealOliveTraybake

And may I add that's a very ableist comment to make.

@CraftyNavySeal It is because bots can be used to exploit the booking system . It is mentioned in this article: www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8jgndjnlmvo.amp

Has anyone written to their MP about this and got a response?

I know it’s tedious to do so but I can’t believe this is just dragging on when surely it’s easily fixed.

Surely they have a list of all licences issued .. so they just need a field to input that detail and then do face id like th e Gov One ID thing and then that person can book the test.

It doesn't sound complicated to implement as they're already using this technology now.

Or stop all the online shit and make people go into the examination centre where the assessors start from to book a test.

I'm always suspicious when a system seems set up to make private organisations money and then there is an apparent unwillingness by the civil service to get a grip of it and sort it out.

Not much use if you live rurally in an area with no public transport.

They don't give a shiny shit about people in rural areas. Or non rural areas either.

I'm sorry but if they can't pass the test in an unfamiliar place they shouldn't be driving.

I honestly don’t believe the government is competent enough to deliberately orchestrate a reduction in driver numbers by setting up bots to make it impossible to book tests.
They just aren’t that organised.

I do believe they have been running the system on a shoestring budget for years, it couldn’t cope with demand post pandemic and a group of people have been able to take advantage of an antiquated system, create a black market and profit off that for years because there’s no one at the dvla with the skills to fix it. I can also believe that because the people affected aren’t a group that will sway an election result they a) don’t get much press attention and b) don’t get much attention from government. However at some point it’s going to start impacting the economy because public transport is shit outside big cities and it will be cheaper to fix this than improve bus services.

If it's not sorted by the next general election it might be a vote winner for all the new 16 /17yr old voters.

It's a pity they can't book in person. But no one is going to pay for some part time admin staff to work at the test centres.

I agree OP. Its farcical. I cannot believe that there is not a straightforward solution to this problem. Yet another thing in life that has been made immeasurably worse for ordinary people by IT.

@RealOliveTraybake

Well tbh you clearly no nothing about ND needs and it's not about driving ability is about nerves on the day of the test and pressure which is trebled due to the huge waits and inability to be in an area familiar to them.

A lot of people dont like driving in a new area or big cities in normal situations let alone during the driving test.

That’s such an ableist comment to make, as others have also called you out on.

I am ND and would not have passed my test in an unfamiliar place. The fact that I’ve been driving for 24 years without having been involved in an accident hopefully proves that I’m a competent driver.

I am on a ridiculous high this morning as I succeeded in getting a test booking for my (fully competent but starts work at 7am) dd this morning, at one of her 2 preferred centres. Am shocked I managed it, was fully prepared to scour the obscure places too.