The huge amount of people waiting for a driving test amid backlog
- The number of learner drivers with a future practical driving test booking in Britain has reached a record high of 668,128 by the end of September, marking a 15% increase from the previous year.
- This surge indicates a significant backlog, which the DVSA attributes to increased demand and people booking tests much earlier, despite 168,644 tests being conducted last month, a 14% rise compared to the same month a year prior.
- Roads minister Simon Lightwood welcomed the increase in tests, stating the government is addressing a 'broken system' by incentivising examiners and nearly doubling the number of trainers to unlock more test slots.
- The Transport Secretary aims to reduce the average driving test waiting time from 22.3 weeks in June to seven weeks by summer 2026.
- The government is also consulting on amending the booking system to prevent bots from reselling slots at inflated prices, while the pass rate last month fell to a six-month low of 49.9%.