Military examiners deployed to ease UK driving test backlog crisis
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will receive support from Ministry of Defence (MoD) examiners to tackle driving test delays. Transport Minister Simon Lightwood confirmed the move, with military personnel set to assist for up to a year. The decision follows ongoing struggles with examiner recruitment and high demand for tests.
The DVSA has faced persistent shortages, with 118 trainees either failing or resigning since July last year. Lightwood cited high demand, low learner confidence, and early test bookings as key reasons for the backlog. To address this, MoD defence driving examiners will join test centres after completing familiarisation training.
The first centres to receive support will be in Weymouth, Tibshelf, and Wisbech—areas with the highest demand. The arrangement will last for 12 months, with examiners working on a marginal-cost basis. No overall cost to the public purse has been disclosed.
In response to concerns, the DVSA has a complaints process in place, including an option to escalate issues to an independent assessor. The agency also plans new measures to better manage test bookings and examiner allocations.
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden had previously questioned the cost estimates and causes of the delays. The government has now confirmed the MoD’s involvement but has not provided a total financial figure for the support.
The MoD’s examiners will help reduce waiting times for driving tests over the next year. Their deployment begins in high-demand centres, with the DVSA introducing further steps to improve efficiency. The exact financial impact on public funds remains undisclosed.
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