Learner drivers in Swindon have been sharing their stressful experiences of trying to book a test amid the ongoing lockdown backlog.

The average wait time to book a test in Swindon is now 24 weeks, according to the latest Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) data.

Learners hoping to book their test elsewhere are unlikely to have much luck as the average wait time for Chippenham and Bristol test centres is also six months, while the average wait to book a driving test at Trowbridge test centre is four weeks.

We asked Adver readers to share their experiences and many said the prospect of failing a test and having to wait to rebook it created additional pressure when it finally came to their test day.

Hannah, whose surname has not been disclosed, said: “My daughter booked her test in April, the first available slot was in Chippenham in August. The pressure to pass was huge because she didn’t want to have to wait another four months to retake.

“She was fortunate enough to pass, but some of the others taking their test that day didn’t. They had also been waiting months, some had travelled miles - one from Newport. The poor lad failed.”

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Another comment from driving instructor Paul, also not revealing his surname, said: “As an approved driving instructor, I book tests for my pupils. The wait time is 24 weeks with very few cancellations popping up. And it's been like this for a long time now.”

“The whole system needs looking at. The booking process and availability is shockingly bad”, added Laura. 

There were 226, 706 more tests conducted in the 2023-24 period compared to 2017-2018, pre-lockdown, and the pass rate has increased from 46.3 per cent to 47.9 per cent.

StreetStar Driving School added: “Many learners are booking straight after they have passed their theory test.

"In some cases, this may mean that they are booking their driving test before they have sat behind the wheel.

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“This results in many learners having to change the date of their test on multiple occasions as they are not ready.

“As a consequence, those who are test-ready may find it more difficult to get one.

"This includes those who have recently failed a test and are ready to retake after a few lessons to hone their skills or those who need to drive for their job, such as nurses and carers.”

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