I couldn’t book a driving test so I was forced to take drastic action – it cost me £150 but it was worth it

A STUDENT made a 1,000-mile round trip to take her driving test because she could not book one in her area.

Emily Doyle, 22, embarked on the monster expedition with mum Audrey, 50, due to the huge tests backlog.

The musical theatre student, from Windsor, Berks, had been trying to book a test in Surrey since passing her theory in April.

But it proved impossible so she decided to look elsewhere — and settled on the £150 journey to mum Audrey’s home town of Aberdeen.

She passed with six minor faults. Emily said: “I’m really relieved I passed. I think it paid off.

“I could have been waiting a year or more for a test near home. It took a lot of planning and time.”

Audrey, an executive assistant, added: “I think it’s very extreme what we did, but needs must. There was no alternative. We’ve never been able to secure a date even six months to a year ahead.

“You just can’t get dates. It’s frustrating and very extreme but Emily was determined to take her test.”

Waiting times have rocketed due to high demand, the impact of Covid and industrial action.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said: “We are taking all the measures we can to reduce driving test waiting times. We strongly urge learners only to book their test when they are ready to pass.”