The waiting times of the testing test in Britain reached a record high.
The average waiting time to book a test was 20 weeks in February, according to figures obtained by AA Schools School.
This is higher than 14 weeks last year – such as the department for Transport (DFT) is aimed at tackling the backlog.
The DFT has launched a campaign to recruit and train 450 new management examiners.
And the notice period for making any changes to a booked test slot will be extended from three working days to 10 working days from April 8.
Seven weeks or below is the DVSA’s nationwide target for the end of the year, but from February only 14 centers reached it.
The number of testing centers with a 24-week waittime almost doubled from 94 to 183 during the 12-month period.
Emma Bush, managing director of the AA Management School, said it was “satisfied” that the DVSA sets out its plans to reduce the waiting times.
“These are important attempts to reach this target are effective and lead to this significant reduction,” she added.
“It is extremely important to reduce the waiting times of the driving test, to ensure that a lack of driver’s license does not become an ongoing obstacle for young people trying to gain access to education and employment.”
The latest statistics from the DFT show the percentage of 17 to 20-year-olds in England With a driver’s license dropped from 35% in 2019 to 29% in 2023.
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A spokesperson for the DVSA said the waiting times remain high “due to an increase in demand and low confidence in the customers in the availability of the testing”.
“We are still working on the implementation of our seven-point plan to reduce the waiting times and to encourage learner managers to discuss only their driving test when their instructor agrees that they are ready.”
