REACTION: Response to this morning's Transport Committee session on driving test availability

IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said: “Although the proactive work from the DVSA has made a difference in bringing down national waiting times for practical driving tests, the reality is that there are some pockets of the country where waiting times remain stubbornly high which will be a source of frustration for novice drivers hoping to discard their L-plates. Long waiting times may encourage learner drivers to book ‘early’ before they are potentially ready to take their test, meaning that if they fail, they will simply have to re-sit. To make matters worse, unscrupulous third parties are block booking tests and selling them on at a profit. We would encourage the Government to consider banning the sale of driving tests for anything other than the official list price.”