How to solve the driving test crisis
Equality is not always fair
I passed my driving test about 35 years ago. The waiting lists were long then, and they are long now.
It was a problem then, and it is a problem now. There are people who can’t take the job they want, or even look for the job they want, because they don’t have a licence. There are people who can’t get to college. People who can’t care for those who need care.
In short, the state is failing.
But it is not failing equally.
If you live in Yorkshire, the North East or Scotland, then over a third of tests in the next 24 weeks are available. You can decide how many lessons you expect to need, and get a test booked in. Or if you live in Gateshead you can wait until you are ready, and book yourself a text next week.
It isn’t that easy if you live in London or the South East. Only 7% of test slots in the next 24 weeks are available. To put it another way, it is five times easier to get a test in the North East as in the South East. You certainly can’t book a test next week.
Regional inequality is getting worse. Over the last year driving test availability has improved in the North East a lot. A year ago only 15% of tests were available, the latest figure is 34%. That is a great improvement. In London and the South East, however, test availability has improved only from 5% to 7% - well within the margin of error.
The reason is simple, and the solution is equally simple…