Waiting times for driving tests DOUBLE as learners face huge delay

WAITING times for driving tests have more than doubled with learners facing up to six months’ delay.

The hold-up jumped from an average of 8.2 weeks in September 2019 to 18.8 weeks last month.

More than half a million people were waiting to take the practical driving test in August.

Some 13 test centres have closed since 2020 — 22 in the past nine years, Department for Transport figures reveal.

The centre in ­Hendon, North West London, had a 24-week delay for most of the past two years.

And tests in Goodmayes, East London, faced similar hold-ups.

AA Driving School’s Camilla Benitz said: “More has to be done to address this.”

And Tory MP Neil O’Brien said: “The Department for ­Transport need to massively up their game to bust these appalling backlogs.”

Transport minister Lilian Greenwood said some learners wait longer because they choose ­centres nearer home.

She also said measures to reduce waiting times include recruiting more examiners and doing tests at weekends.