A new ban has been introduced, preventing driving instructors from booking practical driving tests on behalf of their pupils. Only learners are now permitted to schedule and manage their own examinations. This measure is designed to combat the illicit use of automated programs, commonly known as “bots”, which were employed to secure test slots rapidly and resell them at significantly inflated prices. Black market slots were reportedly costing up to £500, compared to the standard fee of £62.
Record Waiting Times
The average waiting time for a practical driving test in England has now exceeded 22 weeks. This represents a substantial increase from the five-week average recorded before the coronavirus pandemic in February 2020. The surge in waiting times has been a growing concern for learner drivers across the country.
Additional Rule Changes
Further changes are set to take effect from 12 June, allowing test slots to be moved only to one of the three test centres nearest to the original booking. Additionally, as of 31 March, the number of changes permitted for a single booking has been reduced from six to two. These adjustments aim to streamline the booking system and reduce opportunities for exploitation.
While these changes are seen as a positive step towards overhauling the booking system, experts like Emma Bush from AA Driving School suggest that a sustained focus on retaining and recruiting driving test examiners is crucial to significantly reduce the prolonged waiting times. Without addressing the examiner shortage, the impact of the new rules may be limited.
