Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for driving tests; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of waiting times on driving test (a) candidates and (b) examiners.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.

As acknowledged in the announcement regarding these measures, DVSA understands the potential impact high waiting times have on learner drivers, and the importance of helping learners pass quickly.

Further information on these actions and progress on the DVSA’s plan to reduce waiting times, which was set out last year, can be found on GOV.UK.

All staff at the agency are working tirelessly to reduce waiting times and help more people get on the road.

Driving examiners have been asked to carry out overtime, but this is on a voluntary basis. Examiners may also revise their shift patterns to incorporate weekend working.

The wellbeing and health and safety of colleagues, including driving examiners, is paramount, and DVSA will continue to support its people through its comprehensive wellbeing approach.