Huge shakeup to UK driving tests could see Brits pass for free

Free driving tests could help learners pass sooner amid the worst ever backlog of driving tests in the UK, MPs have heard.

The current situation has created a scenario where it is sometimes cheaper to book a driving test than to pay for a couple of lessons, which many believe is unfair and counterproductive.

Alex Mayer, a Labour MP who shared her own experience of failing her driving test repeatedly, spoke in the House of Commons about the impact of the growing backlog. She explained that many people are "putting their lives on hold" because of the long waiting times to get a driving test slot.

Mayer highlighted that some of her constituents have been told they must wait up to nine months for a test, a delay she described as "utterly ridiculous”.

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She also pointed out that people are booking tests regardless of whether they feel ready, simply because of the difficulty in securing a slot. Mayer said: "It is cheaper sometimes to book that driving test time than it is to book a couple of lessons — and that cannot be right."

To address this issue, Mayer proposed a new approach — increasing the test fee but giving everyone one free attempt at the driving test. She suggested that if a learner passes their test on this first attempt, they would receive a refund.

Arguing that this system would encourage learners to only book their test when they truly felt prepared, Mayer explained: “How about we do put up the fee, but we give everybody one free go at it? So basically, if you pass your driving test, you get a refund, so that would encourage everybody to only go for it when they really thought that they were going to pass it.”

She added that increased charges for those who repeatedly fail would offset the cost of the free first attempt. Mayer even joked about her own experience, adding: “(It) probably wouldn’t have done me any good – I failed my driving test about five times.” Her comments drew laughter from MPs, and she concluded: “I eventually managed it.”

The backlog of driving tests in Britain has reached unprecedented levels. As of the end of May, there were 631,472 future practical driving tests booked, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). This is a significant increase from 527,368 a year ago, highlighting the ever-growing pressure on the system.

Ruth Cadbury, chairwoman of the Commons Transport Committee and Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth, responded to Mayer’s suggestion by calling it an "innovative suggestion" and suggesting that it should be considered seriously by transport minister Mike Kane, who was present in the chamber during the debate.

The current backlog and the financial imbalance between paying for lessons and booking tests have created a challenging environment for learner drivers. Mayer’s proposal aims to encourage better preparation before taking a tests to reduce the increasing strain on the system, allowing more learners to finally move on from their L-plates.

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