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The big debate: L-test waiting times Regular <strong>Newslink</strong> contributor Rod Came received a letter from DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder – as did all ADIs – in which she outlined her initial response to the Covid crisis... and it prompted Rod to reply in person, setting out his concerns over a perceived lack of action on waiting times. Here we publish the DVSA’s response.... and Rod’s reaction Test waiting times: How can driver training and testing hope to get back on track? “We have put measures in place to increase testing availability across all categories...” Dear Mr Came Thank you for your email of 25 March to our Chief Executive, Loveday Ryder. I am replying on her behalf. I have received the comments needed and can now respond fully, thank you for your patience. I am sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment caused. The Covid-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for us all and we know the past 12 months have been, and remain, incredibly tough for instructors and learner drivers. I appreciate your comments about recruiting new examiners. We needed time to assess the amount of recruitment required and where, and the type of contract/ hours we could offer. We must follow the latest government guidelines and under social distancing measures, training has not been 20 permitted. Therefore, as you can appreciate, the new examiners will not be ready to conduct tests as soon as the restrictions lift. As a result of candidates not being able to learn during the period of restrictions there should not be such pent-up demand for tests beyond the figures quoted. We provide the figures from a live booking system and these are subject to change. As a result, it is not realistic to provide waiting times on a test centre basis, which is why we give the average. We have put measures in place to increase testing availability across all categories, including vocational. We are offering overtime to examiners and buying back annual leave, asking all those qualified to carry out tests to do so (such as driving test managers). We are also conducting out-of-hours testing (such as public holidays). I understand your concerns about ADI workloads, but instructors will need to measure their workloads and explain any difficulties to their pupils. This is not something we can offer further advice on. We will continue to keep the demand for testing under review. Candidates can use our online service to check for available dates. I am unable to comment about the number of staff involved to train or supervise the new recruits. You will need to make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Please contact the FOI team at foi@dvsa.gov.uk who will reply within 20 days of receipt. Please provide a detailed request explaining the exact information you need. You can stay up to date with how coronavirus is affecting driving tests on GOV.UK. Please feel free to send this response to MSA GB as requested. Yours sincerely Sandy Farrer Corporate Reputation “As a result of candidates not being able to learn during the period of restrictions there should not be such pent-up-demand for tests beyond the figures quoted...” NEWSLINK n MAY 2021
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com Thanks, but it’s action we need Dear Ms Farrer I thank you for your comprehensive reply to my email passed to you on behalf of the Chief Executive (published left). Please find below a copy of an article I wrote before receiving your reply to my email to Loveday Ryder. I am forwarding this to you first to keep you up to date with what might be published in MSA GB <strong>Newslink</strong>, and second, to try to establish what the number of candidates currently waiting for a practical driving test actually is. It appears that the Transport Secretary and the DVSA are quoting markedly different figures for both the numbers waiting and the current waiting time. I appreciate the difficulties that DVSA have to overcome, but they are moreso for ADIs and driving test candidates who are totally unable to any action to affect the outcome of the problem. That is entirely in the province of the DVSA. It is necessary for each to fight their own corner which I am attempting to do on behalf of ADIs and their customers. Yours sincerely Rod Came Need a hand, DVSA? ADIs stand ready to help you out Rod Came MSA South East DVSA has recently told the driver training industry that the average waiting time for a driving test is 17 weeks, with 420,000 candidates waiting for one of its elusive tests. It should know, after all, the DVSA is the only provider with the figures. Admittedly, the agency did not stipulate whether the waiting lists were limited to 17 weeks, or how they came to the conclusion that 420,000 people were in line. The bald fact was stated and we have to take it as gospel. At a Zoom meeting arranged by MSA SE on 7th April, the DVSA representative conceded that it would take a year to reduce the waiting time for a test. He stated that the agency was doing everything it could to reduce the waiting time as soon as possible. He put my question back to me by asking what I would do to solve the problem. A fair response, except that it is not part of my job description to reorganise the DVSA so that it provides an efficient service to its customers. The following day I read in The Telegraph that Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said that learners may face an eight-month wait made worse by there being fewer instructors than pre-pandemic. (Possibly that should read examiners rather than instructors). He also said that it is estimated that there is a backlog of over 1,100,000 tests, which is nearly three times the DVSA figure. Over the course of 24 hours that is a tremendous increase, and I suspect nowhere near the actual figure which will emerge in six months time, when those who have yet to start lessons then expect a practical driving test. The obvious dilemma the DVSA has is that it has nowhere near enough examiners to provide the number of tests its customers require. As I pointed out at the meeting, for the DVSA to launch a recruitment drive just as practical tests are to start again is far, far, too late – it should have been done months ago when the problem was obviously developing. By not doing so, the issue was exacerbated, now it has gone past being solved within an acceptable time frame. In normal times DVSA provides circa 1.6-1.8 million tests a year. Adding on Shapps’ 1.1 million back log, that brings the total to nearly 3 million, a figure that DVSA has never ever got near to providing in the past. DVSA is only now starting on reducing the deficit, with an ‘‘ Making the correct decision not to proceed requires as much confidence as knowing when to proceed. ‘‘ apparently reduced workforce each providing fewer tests per day than normal. That is the scale of the problem the DVSA is faced with. So how to get out of the mess? You will have read it before and I will keep repeating it – let ADIs certify their own pupils as being up to the standard necessary to pass a practical driving test. DVSA says: “Although ADIs are well qualified and proficient in driving and instruction, they are not experienced assessors.” But an ADI is classed by DVSA as ‘a fit and proper person’ to qualify to be on the ADI Register, so trust us. I take issue that ADIs are not experienced assessors. Of course we are; we assess our pupils on every lesson, we assess their progress, we assess their likelihood of passing a driving test, we assess whether they will be safe on the road after passing – we are assessors. Granted, some will be better than others, but assessors we are. I appreciate that legislation precludes ADIs from being examiners – so make a temporary change to the legislation, not hide behind that restriction and let the test waiting time problem escalate to unimaginable lengths. Our industry is prepared to help the DVSA out of its predicament because that is the right thing to do. Without our help, ADIs will be training people for a driving test that will not be available, causing much resentment from the public, ADIs and their pupils. DVSA, it is time to make your choice. Lies, damned lies... and statistics: pg 22 NEWSLINK n MAY 2021 21
Page 1 and 2: msagb.com Newslink The Voice of MSA
Page 3 and 4: For all the latest news, see www.ms
Page 8 and 9: News DVSA CEO update as it’s all
Page 10 and 11: News NASP to have say in Safe Drivi
Page 12: News Caught on camera: DVSA issues
Page 17 and 18: NEWSLINK n MAY 2021 17
Page 19: For all the latest news, see www.ms
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