"Now, many people seeking a test need to wake up early to snag a date before the bots do and, even then, they are looking at a long and arduous wait. Despite moves from the government to address the issue, an audit report released this week found plans to cut the wait for a driving test to seven weeks by the end of the year would not be achieved until November 2027."
"In his previous job, kitted out with a bright hi-vis and Battenberg-marked car, Woodman was often mistaken for a police officer. I was working as a traffic officer for Highways England. I was dealing with everything from hard-shoulder breakdowns to fatal incidents, he said. Leon Woodman: I moved on because of the money. I was growing a family and I was jealous of a few mates of mine who were hybrid working.'"
"I really enjoyed the job. I remember it took me two goes to pass my driving test. I remember my first one having this really miserable driving examiner and I thought: This is pure torture'. Then my second driving examiner was fantastic. He came out with a smile on his face and I said: That's the way I want to be,' said Woodman."
Driving test appointment availability has become harder to secure, with bots and long waits replacing the former focus on passing the test itself. An audit found government plans to cut waits to seven weeks by year-end will not be met until November 2027. A major barrier is an exodus of driving examiners, with only a net 83 additional examiners despite 19 recruitment campaigns since 2021 and an average practical test wait of 22 weeks across Great Britain. Some former traffic officers switched to DVSA roles for pay and stability, and personal experiences shaped motivations and attitudes in the role.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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