Driving Test Availability

The Member discussed inadequate public transport and the impact on constituents' ability to secure subsequent driving tests after initial failures, citing five-month delays and stress for those in Madeley and Betley.

Discussed long wait times in Portsmouth, noting an average of 24 weeks since 2023 compared to eight weeks before the pandemic. Mentioned the financial and emotional toll on constituents unable to book tests promptly and highlighted issues with bot software reselling slots at high prices.

My hon. Friend highlighted the significant backlog in driving tests required to qualify as a driving instructor.

Mr Smith highlighted the long waiting times for driving tests, impacting young people's social and economic mobility in rural areas. He criticised third-party profiteering from the backlog and urged urgent action despite the previous Government's efforts to increase test availability.

Helena Dollimore discussed the pressing issue of long waiting times for driving tests in Hastings and Rye. She mentioned that new parents, people with caring responsibilities, and those with business needs are struggling to secure timely appointments. She welcomed the Labour Government's commitment to addressing this issue as a priority.

Mr. Athwal intervened to acknowledge the importance of the debate, agreeing with Mr. McKenna's points about industrial-scale fraud. He cited examples of stark discrepancies in test availability between different locations and raised concerns over premium prices charged by driving instructors for local tests.

Jim Shannon highlighted that the issue of driving licences and test availability is not limited to one constituency but affects the whole United Kingdom. He pointed out long waiting times in Northern Ireland, where a staff member waited four and a half months for a test date. He also mentioned concerns about car insurance costs being excessively high for young drivers, sometimes four times the value of their cars. Mr Shannon asked whether the Minister had contacted the Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister to exchange ideas on addressing driving test issues.

Ms. Minns discussed the significant delays her constituents face, with a wait time of five months for a test in Carlisle compared to one month in Dumfries. She suggested greater flexibility in moving driving test assessors and asked for improved responses from the DVSA when IP addresses are blocked due to bots. She also raised concerns about delays in medical assessments by the DVLA.

Mr. McKenna highlighted the difficulty his constituents face in securing driving tests, particularly mentioning a case of a police officer candidate who could only find a test months away due to limited availability in her area. He expressed concern over areas with significant transport blackspots, emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions and addressing issues like ticket touting which exploit public services.

Stressed the importance of driving tests for mobility and economic benefits, highlighting severe backlogs in Reading with some constituents having to travel significant distances like Cheshire or Cornwall. Raised concerns over the closure of the Elgar Road South test centre scheduled for spring 2025 and uncertainty about a new location.

He highlighted the long wait times for driving tests, exacerbated by the closure of 26 test centres since 2015. A black market has arisen where individuals pay over three times the normal price to book a driving test. He also mentioned that over 700 NHS staff are waiting to take essential driving tests, affecting their ability to perform critical roles.

The national waiting time for driving tests is about four and a half months, but in Kettering it rose to six months. Both instructors and pupils are frustrated by the lack of test availability and cancellations. Driving test slots often sell on social media for up to £250 due to scarcity.

The average waiting time for a driving test in the Midlands and South-West is over 21 weeks, which is highest among all regions. This delays access to employment and training opportunities, particularly affecting young people who rely on car access for work. He noted that in Telford there are only two driving test assessors for a population of half a million. He criticised the previous government for not doing sufficient succession planning and recruiting more assessors.