Changes To Driving Tests Could See Tougher Penalties For Learners Who Fail

Potential changes to driving tests would mean that learner drivers could face harsher penalties if they fail.

The proposals would mean that drivers have to wait 28 working days before booking another driving test - the current waiting time is 10 working days.

With a huge demand for driving tests, it would mean that the number of people booking reduces and appointments aren't 'wasted'.

The pass rate between April and September last year was little over half, with just 50.5 percent passing their tests.

The proposals are being made by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) who are trying to encourage learner drivers to be better prepared when they take their driving test.

There are three main reasons why the suggestions have been put forward:

• Fewer tests than usual have taken place because of restrictions and other factors related to the pandemic.
• Learner drivers who are not yet ready to take their test have heard that waiting times are high, causing them to book earlier than they normally would.
• The pass rate for driving tests - for many years, less than half of people pass on their first attempt, meaning they’ll need to take at least one more test.

Reports from driving instructors suggest that most people want to pass their driving test as quickly and cheaply as possible, and they've said they're unable to stop their pupils booking a test before they're ready.

This probably has much to do with the fact that many people taking their test are teenagers with weekend jobs and little disposable income. But it's probably not the safest way to get on the roads.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said: "We’ve put forward some of these proposals because we think they’ll encourage learner drivers to be better prepared for their driving test, help to reduce the number of driving test appointments that are wasted [and] give us more flexibility in how and when we can carry out driving tests."

Changing the waiting time would also mean that people who fail have more time to take further training before taking the test again

The change would only apply to car driving tests and the rules would remain the same for other types of tests such as motorbike tests, heavy goods vehicle (HGV) tests and bus driving tests.

Theory tests would also stay as they are and approved driving instructor tests would be the same as well.

Road Safety Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton said: "Safe driving is a lifetime skill and something that improves with experience. But obtaining a broad range of skills, knowledge and understanding, and driving experience, during the initial learning to drive stage is vitally important.

"It will help you to pass the driving test and keep you safe at the crucial point that you drive on your own for the first time. It will also set you on your way to a lifetime of safe driving.

"The proposals in this consultation are designed to encourage and help learner drivers to do this.

"They will also further help to reduce the longer than usual waiting times for tests that have resulted from the suspension of testing during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic."