Almost 1.2 million learner drivers are waiting to take their driving tests – and it is estimated clearing the backlog could take eight months.
That’s according to data compiled by vehicle insurance company Marmalade which calculated 1,160,000 learners are waiting to take their test.
The firm added this problem is further compounded by a long-running decline in the number of driving instructors, claiming there has been a reduction of 2.3 percent in the last year alone, down to 38,778.
Based on these figures, each UK driving instructor is currently working with 30.46 learners each, meaning instructors are over-capacity by 55.81 percent and “incapable of tackling the backlog efficiently”.
Driving lessons are set to restart from 12 April in England and Wales, while learners in Scotland must wait until 26 April at the earliest.
Driving tests in England can resume from 22 April.
‘1 in 5 learners haven’t had a test rebooked’
The insurance company added that of the learners it surveyed in March who have had tests cancelled in the last year:
- 33 percent reported not having one rebooked until four months later
- 22.5 percent have seen them postponed for six months
- 15 percent have a wait of seven months or more
- 20.4 percent haven’t had a rebooked test at all
“The ongoing lockdown restrictions over the past year has hit so many learners, many of whom are young people who have felt a considerable impact from the pandemic,” said Crispin Moger, CEO of Marmalade.
“An inability to book driving tests and learn, for some, has led to isolation, a loss of opportunities in work, education and a huge blow to finances.
“This backlog and lack of capacity in the industry indicates ongoing challenges to get learners on the road to freedom. My hope is that many learners can find ways around the challenges and the industry can recruit more well-needed instructors.”
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