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News Low L-test increase highlights need for DVSA’s staffing nuclear option Test data, July-September 2023 n 663,000 car theory tests were conducted, up 10% n the car theory test pass rate was 46.1%, up 1.4 % n 432,000 car practical tests were conducted, up 5% n the car practical test pass rate was 48.9%, up 0.2% Hopes at the DVSA that recruiting new examiners and adding more capacity to the L-test system would help reduce waiting times appear to have been dashed, after new figures showed only a marginal increase in the number of tests conducted. Between July-September 2023, just five per cent more tests were completed, compared with the same period in 2022. 432,174 L-tests were conducted from July-September 2023, compared with 412,735 for the same quarter in 2022 - an increase of just shy of five per cent. In this period the DVSA had placed its faith on tactics such as buying back examiner leave, asking recently retired examiners to return to work and recruiting up to 250 new examiners, in a bid to reduce test waiting times. But clearly these plans have not delivered the hoped-for improvements. A number of examiner walk-outs over a long running pay and terms and conditions dispute have clearly not helped matters. The period covered does not, however, include the more radical changes to working practices brought in in October, when DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder announced that all ‘warrant card’ holding staff would be switched to cover L-tests. This has seen Standards Checks and Part 3 tests drastically cut back, and senior figures who traditionally work on DVSA policy, strategy and management return to the ranks as examiners. MSA national vice chairman Peter Harvey said the news of only a small increase in L-tests possibly explains why Ms Ryder took such bold steps in October. “I think this five per cent increase in tests, while welcome, was nowhere near the increase the DVSA hoped for when it announced its strategy at the back end of 2021. “Recruiting additional examiners was always a long-term solution, as it takes several months to select and train suitable candidates. However, we do know that the take-up and timescales have not been what the DVSA expected, so possibly these new examiners have not delivered the number of extra tests predicted. “Buying back examiner leave, adding in extra tests and recalling recently retired examiners were always marginal strategies.” He added that the news that just five per cent more tests were conducted “does bring into sharp focus the question why the moves announced in October were not made earlier.” He said: “NASP has been told consistently that the DVSA was doing all it could to reduce test waiting times... only for this somewhat nuclear option to be announced in October, when even the most senior officials were asked to take examining duties. Perhaps a prior sight of these disappointing results for July- September prompted drastic action.” “As ADIs, we can hope only that the next quarter’s figures, for October-December, sees some of the benefits of that strategy coming into play, and that by the time we are reviewing the figures for tests from January- March 2024, we will see all the DVSA’s measures taking effect.” Peter did highlight one statistic that is to be welcomed: the slight increase in overall pass rate. “It is encouraging to see that the pass rate is rising and that we are tantalisingly close to a 50 per cent pass rate. “If we could see a further uplift in the pass rate, taking it to above 50 per cent at last, that alone would have a real impact on waiting times. “The thing we all know from driver training is few pupils give up if they fail; every test failure becomes a new test candidate, thus increasing the waiting times still further. A pass rate above 50 per cent would change the overall picture completely.” DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder has, it appears, fired all the weapons in the DVSA’s armoury in a bid to reduce waiting times To see the entire set of test figures, click here 10 NEWSLINK n JANUARY 2024
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com CAR PRACTICAL TESTS In July to September 2023 (Quarter 2), 432,000 car practical tests were conducted in Great Britain, an increase of 5% on July to September 2022 (Quarter 2). The total pass rate was 48.9%, with 47.7% of females passing compared to 49.9% of males. The total pass rate for July to September 2023 (Quarter 2) was up 0.2 percentage points from the same quarter of the previous year. July to September 2023 Total Female Male Tests conducted 432,174 198,054 234,058 Tests Passed 211,294 94,526 116,744 Pass Rate (%) 48.9% 47.7% 49.9% July to September 2022 Tests conducted 412,735 197,559 215,078 Tests Passed 200,969 92,327 108,607 Pass Rate (%) 48.7% 46.7% 50.5% Year-on-year change Tests Conducted +5% 0% +9% Tests Passed +5% +2% +7% Pass Rate +0.2% +1.0% -0.6% THEORY TESTS In July to September 2023 (Quarter 2), 663,000 car theory tests were conducted in Great Britain, an increase of 10% on July to September 2022 (Quarter 2). The total pass rate was 46.1%, with 48.0% of females passing compared to 44.6% of males. The total pass rate for July to September 2023 (Quarter 2) was up 1.4 percentage points from the same quarter of the previous year. July-September 2023 Total Female Male Tests Conducted 663,103 293,394 369,692 Tests Passed: 305,832 140,914 164,907 Pass Rate (%): 46.1% 48.0% 44.6% July- September 2022 Tests conducted 602,677 271,322 331,293 Tests Passed 269,362 125,493 143,827 Pass Rate (%): 44.7% 46.3% 43.4% Year-on-year change Tests conducted +10% +8% +12% Tests Passed +14% +12% +15% Pass Rate +1.4% +1.8% +1.2% NEWSLINK n JANUARY 2024 11
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Page 6 and 7: News IN BRIEF UK survey reveals mai
Page 8 and 9: News New year, new round of strikes
Page 12 and 13: News Too heavy, too wide: Modern ca
Page 14: News Road safety group vents anger
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Page 25 and 26: ADI groups and associations MSA GB
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