Over the past 18 months we have seen how frustrating it was to book for a driving test because of the backlog of tests due to the pandemic. It is now normal to have to wait 15+ weeks for a driving test. DVSA has been on a recruitment drive to hire more examiners to help alleviate the backlog and most examiners are now back to work full time doing 7 tests a day. All these measures will definitely help reduce the waiting time.

 

Recently, the DVSA have announced new policies that would affect how soon you can book for your first and subsequent tests. The DVSA are now asking for all instructor's help to reduce the waiting time by ensuring that their pupils are fully prepared and ready for their tests and not present them to the test if they feel the pupils are not ready. There will be ramifications for instructors who present their students for tests if they are not ready and it could include re-testing their ability to teach and sanctions placed on them. Worse yet the instructors may lose their license to teach!

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Every 2-4 years all instructors must be assessed for their ability to teach to ensure high quality of teaching. We are given a grade at the end of the assessment, A, B or Fail. Instructors who fail must be assessed again and if they fail again then they may lose their license to teach. The new policy goes further than this. With that it is now a possibility that if the instructors consistently present students who are not ready they may lose their licenses or face sanctions.

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Because of this, it is now my requirement that all pupils have at least 45 hours of driving lessons. For example, if you're a beginner and you have your first lesson with me then I would require you to have a minimum of 45 hours of lessons before I consider putting you up for a test. If you had prior lessons with another instructor before joining me I would need a letter from your previous instructor stating how many hours of lessons you have had. This instructor must be fully qualified and possess a Green Badge (a license allowing the person to give paid lessons). I will of course assess each pupil on their own merits so if I feel you are prepared even though you have not had 45 hours, it is in my discretion whether to present you to the test or not.

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The 45 hours is not just any random number I made up. I am basing this on DVSA recommendation on the average number of hours a pupil need to be prepared for the test. DVSA recommends that a pupil have 45 hours of professional lessons with an approved instructor and additionally 15 hours with a family member or a friend. Driving conditions on the roads are very different these days compared to 15-20 years ago. It is therefore crucial that you are more than well prepared for the test and on the roads.

Before agreeing for you to book a driving test I will assess your overall driving skills through mock tests and if I am 100% satisfied that you are ready only then will I agree for you to book one.

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