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The big debate: L-test waiting times Statistics can make even the worst situation sound like a positive Rod Came Lies, damned lies, and statistics which are not lies. As you will have read elsewhere in this issue, and in previous ones, the DVSA has repeatedly said that there is a 17-week average waiting time for practical tests. I will accept that is correct, but what does it mean? A city test centre has a waiting time of 14 months; that adds up to 60 weeks. Elsewhere, two remote test centres have two-week waiting times, and a third has four weeks. That totals eight weeks for the three. Add the total weeks of waiting times up and you get 68 weeks. Divide that between four test centres and Voila! a 17-week average between the four. DVSA says it will provide an extra 2,500 tests a month. There are about 380 test centres. 2,500 / 380 equals about seven extra tests per centre – or an average of just one extra test for every four working days per test centre. DVSA says that 300 new examiners are being recruited. Let’s assume that all reach the necessary standard, some may have to take the training more than once, and that 80 test centres will not receive a Rod Came has taken his thoughts on the issue of the lengthy L-test waiting times to a wider audience by writing to The Daily Telegraph Letters page. Here is the letter submitted: Sir, Driving instructors need their pupils to pass their driving test, the instructor’s reputation tests on their pupil’s success. Most instructors can forecast whether new examiner, it means that 300 test centres will have an average of one more examiner. But that figure does not take into account the number who retire, die or are long-term sick during the enrolment their pupil will be ready to pass a test in 4 – 6 weeks time; if the pupil is not ready they will accept delaying their test by that amount of time. With a waiting time of between 17 weeks and eight months there is no way that an instructor can (a) forecast the progress of their pupil and (b) persuade a pupil to postpone their test for that period of time, ready or not. The Driver and Vehicle Standards period, so there may not be a nett increase at all. It’s not what you say, it is the way that you say it. Sometimes statistics can reveal the inconvenient truth. Predicting the future is not a required skill for ADIs Self driving in the UK - coming soon? Agency (DVSA) are asking the impossible of both their customers and driving instructors. When DVSA state they will provide an additional 2,500 tests a month with a waiting list which reportedly varies between 450,000 and 1.1 million, it is obvious that it will take years to get to a situation where driving tests are readily available. Rod Came, Brede, Rye The Department for Transport has given its clearest indication yet that it is prepared to relax the rules around ‘self driving’ technology. The government confitmed that vehicles fitted with automated lane keeping system (ALKS) technology could legally be defined as self-driving, as long as they receive GB-type approval and that there is no evidence to challenge the vehicle’s ability to self-drive. Designed for use on a motorway in slow traffic, ALKS enables a vehicle to drive itself in a single lane, while maintaining the ability to easily and safely return control to the driver when required. The technology is limited up to 37mph. The vehicle constantly monitors speed and keeps a safe distance from other cars. The government thinks ALKS technology could improve road safety by reducing human error, which contributes to over 85 per cent of accidents. A consultation on The Highway Code rules for self-driving technology is currently underway, ending on May 28. 22 NEWSLINK n MAY 2021
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com Give learners a break says May as he enters row over theory tests BBC Top Gear and Amazon The Grand Tour star, James May has joined the chorus of disapproval over the DVSA/Government decision to not extend the validity of theory test certificates for learner drivers. As ADIs will be only too aware, access to driving theory test centres across the UK has been severely restricted in the past year, and there is now a backlog of over 380,000 learners waiting to sit their theory tests. However, an estimated 70,000 learners who have already successfully passed their theory test have seen the certificate lapse due to not being able to take and pass their L-test since last March, and they are also being made to re-take their theory – and pay £23 again to do so. This is despite a petition that has gathered over 77,000 signatures so far calling for the government to extend the two-year validity of theory test certificates. It is believed the number of theory test certificates expiring across the country is adding an average of 3,321 learners every day to the backlog. James May is calling for the rules to be changed. James launched his own Driving Theory Test app, My Theory Test by James May, to help learners last year and it’s already the highest rated by users on the Apple app store. James said: “Having recently developed the My Theory Test app, I know that the test is both very dull and quite difficult to pass. There’s a large group of – predominantly young – people out there who have passed it and now, through no fault of their own, are going to have to take it all over again – and pay for it again. And that’s if they even manage to book a slot. It comes at a time when they need the most help to get out and get jobs as we emerge from lockdown. I think this is unfair and unreasonable.” He added: “The government seems to be arguing that they can’t change the law to extend the validity of theory tests – but that’s exactly what they’ve done in Northern Ireland, and they were quick to extend MOT validity for cars. “So I’m not sure why they’ve decided to penalise young drivers in this way. Perhaps they just want the money?” James concluded: “As a gesture, to help those affected, we reduced the price of the app in April from £4.99 to £3.99. We got a bit less money, even though the government’s taking a lot more.” My Theory Test by James May takes a new approach to the theory test by using smart learning techniques and personalised training plans, so that information is retained longer, making better and safer drivers. Over 30,000 learners have already used My Theory Test by James May. • My Theory Test by James May is available to buy from Apple App Store and Google Play Store NEWSLINK n MAY 2021 23
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Page 8 and 9: News DVSA CEO update as it’s all
Page 10 and 11: News NASP to have say in Safe Drivi
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