Military driving examiners are being deployed to rural areas to assist learner drivers in obtaining their driving licenses. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced proactive measures to combat the booking of driving tests by bots and third parties who resell them at inflated prices. The government aims to address the backlog in test bookings, with the average wait time currently at 21.8 weeks, missing the target of seven weeks by summer 2026.

In a bid to increase test availability, military examiners will assess civilian drivers, potentially providing up to 6,500 additional tests in high-demand locations over the next year. Learner drivers will now be solely responsible for booking their tests, preventing instructors from booking on their behalf and curbing third-party resale practices.

Instances of fraudulent third-party test bookings have prompted these regulatory changes. Learner drivers will be limited to two changes to their test appointments before needing to rebook, with a focus on designated test centers close to their original booking location. The Department for Transport reports that there are currently 642,000 learner drivers with future test bookings in Britain.

The Ministry of Defence will deploy 36 Defense Driving Examiners to conduct driving tests one day a week for a year, charging £100,000 to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency for their services. The initiative aims to streamline the testing process and alleviate the burden on learners facing extensive waiting times. The Armed Forces minister, Al Carns, praised the collaboration between military and civilian personnel in supporting learner drivers and ensuring road safety.

Emma Bush, the managing director of AA Driving School, welcomed the additional support from military examiners, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to reduce waiting times and enhance test delivery efficiency. The long-term strategy includes recruiting and retaining examiners to manage test demand effectively.