The Transport Committee has published correspondence with the Government regarding its efforts to reduce waiting times for learner drivers to secure tests. 

The two letters, between Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury and Simon Lightwood, Minister for Roads and Buses, discusses plans to upgrade the DVSA’s online booking system which continues to be exploited by resale bots. 

In his letter to the Committee, Lightwood highlights a crackdown on driving examiners abusing their ability to book driving test slots and sell them at a profit. 

In her response, The Chair expresses concern about the length of time it is taking to develop and implement a new test booking system – a process which began four years ago. The Committee asks for clarity on when the Government will deploy its new platform. 

The Chair’s response also calls for the Government to address the high turnover of test examiners, and asks why there appears to be “institutional resistance” to improving the pay and conditions of examiners. 

Transport Committee Chair, Ruth Cadbury MP (pictured) said: 

“The difficulty with securing tests is an issue that people across the country continue to raise with me and MPs from across the House of Commons. With bus services so unreliable in many areas, this slow-moving crisis is stopping our constituents, particularly young people, from finding jobs, seeing friends and family, and living their lives. 

“The Transport Select Committee will continue to keep watch over the Government’s efforts to get the backlog for driving tests down and reform the system.” 

(Pic: House of Commons/Laura Noble)