LEARNER drivers in Winchester have felt extreme pressure to pass their test due to large backlogs, with an estimated half a million learners across the UK still on a waiting list to sit their practical test.
Figures from the AA Driving School show at the end of May, 530,387 learners were waiting for a test slot, while test backlogs increased by 34,263 at the end of May 2022 compared to the year before, says the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Across Winchester, driving students have had to wait four to six months for a practical test slot, with many turning to a cancelation app to get a quicker test date.
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Winchester driving instructor, Kev Tanner, from Kev Tanner's Driving School, said: "Most of my students are looking at a four to six-month wait to get a practical driving test in Winchester. It doesn't help matters, because you're getting a lot of people from London booking a test in Winchester and they want to hire our car for a lesson or a test because they don't have a driving instructor.
"The last time I spoke to the examiners in Winchester, they were having at least 15 no-shows a week, where people have booked a test and not turned up."
Kev has been an instructor in Winchester since September 2009 and feels the frustration his students are facing. He said: "It's frustrating them as much as it is us. People should make sure they're test ready but because it's so hard to get a test, they pass their theory, book a practical test and have no lessons or experience, so by the time their test date comes around, they cancel last minute because they know they won't pass.
"It makes me really frustrated because I have students who have been test ready for months, and they can't get a test.
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"Since we have come back from lockdown, every instructor I know has had a waiting list of four to six months before we can take a student on"
In August 2022, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) released their official statistics for practical driving test pass rates in the UK, with data showing that the number of practical tests have returned to pre-lockdown statistics. The DVSA website shows a total of 424,900 practical tests were conducted between January to March 2022, with the same in 2020.
Tim Young, from Tim's Driving Tuition, said: "A lot of students are very frustrated. They realise there's a big backlog, so what some are doing is booking tests in other locations. There is a backlog and people are frustrated. I'm getting calls from people all over the area asking to borrow my car, which is crazy.
"There are a lot of enquiries because people realise the need to get their lessons booked in. People are calling me saying their daughter is 17 in about five months, can I put her on your list, so people are panicking because they realise it's so hard to get a booking.
"I think a lot of people need to get to test standard and some people aren't passing and having to wait again, so it would help if they were at a better standard, so booking a test when you're ready is important."
Hazel Hudson, 39, from Teg Down, Winchester, started her lessons 20 years ago but stopped after family life got in the way. Hazel started her lessons again on September 15, 2021 and passed her test in May, 19 2022. She said using a cancelation app is what helped bring her test date closer. She said: "It was a godsend. I would have been waiting months if I hadn't used the app.
"Another option is waiting on the DVSA website, but it's a nightmare using it as there could be 300 people in the queue waiting for a slot."
Tom Hixon, head of instructor support from Bill Plant Driving School, said: “There’s no doubt that sitting your driving test is a nerve-wracking experience for many, but by ensuring you’re prepared for the day, these nerves can be calmed. One of the main pieces of advice we can give you is to have confidence in yourself and your abilities.
"By making sure you’ve mastered all the possible manoeuvres and that you feel comfortable behind the wheel in a range of driving situations, you should be ready for the examination and understand what is going to be asked of you."
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