Military driving examiners will be deployed across the country to assist learner drivers in obtaining their licenses, as part of a comprehensive initiative. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced a series of measures aimed at curbing the unauthorized booking and resale of driving tests at inflated prices by bots and third parties.
Acknowledging the existing challenge of lengthy waiting times for test bookings, the government is introducing new regulations to address the issue. By allowing military examiners to conduct tests for civilians, an additional 6,500 tests will be made available at high-demand locations in the coming year.
Furthermore, a change will be implemented to restrict test bookings exclusively to learner drivers, disallowing instructors from booking on their behalf. This move aims to prevent third parties from profiteering through reselling tests. The crackdown follows reports of individuals being deceived by fraudulent test sellers on social media platforms.
Under the updated guidelines, learner drivers will have a limit of two changes, including moves and location adjustments, before they are required to cancel and rebook their tests. The Department for Transport highlighted that as of October, there were 642,000 learner drivers in the UK with future test bookings.
The initiative will involve 36 Defence Driving Examiners (DDEs) from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) conducting driving tests one day a week for a year, with a fee of £100,000 paid by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to the MoD. The focus will primarily be on car driving tests, with the option to conduct vocational tests for bus and lorry drivers if necessary. These examiners will be stationed at high-demand test centers near their respective MoD bases or homes.
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns praised the collaboration between the military and civilians within the MoD, emphasizing the commitment to supporting the public through initiatives such as this. Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving School, expressed optimism about the added support from military examiners in reducing waiting times and preventing exploitation by test resellers. She stressed the importance of sustained efforts to restore test booking efficiency to pre-pandemic levels by recruiting and retaining examiners.
In conclusion, the government’s proactive measures aim to streamline the driving test booking process, deter illicit practices, and enhance the overall experience for learner drivers across the UK.
