Driving test waiting times to be reduced, say RSA

Waiting times for driving tests will be cut to less than 10 weeks by next spring, it was claimed today.

To clear the backlog facing thousands of learners, the Road Safety Authority has hired more than 100 testers and over the next 18 months it is hoped around 146,500 would-be motorists will have sat their test, and passed.

But Noel Brett, RSA chief executive warned that cutting waiting times means learners have to get to grips with the roads faster.

“It is important that driving test applicants understand the implications of shorter waiting times,” he said.

“They need to have completed their training and be fully prepared as they will find themselves sitting their test a lot sooner than expected.”

Some 135,847 people are waiting for a driving test.

Average waiting times have dropped from 35 weeks a year ago to 25 weeks, and the RSA said it was confident the new measures will bring it down to 10 weeks by March next year.

The RSA will soon have 126 directly employed driver testers on its books, 11 supervisors and it has also secured contracts for six retired testers.

Sixty-nine RSA testers are also working at evenings, early mornings and weekends throughout the summer to help clear the backlog.

Two contracts have been awarded to Swiss multinational SGS Group - one of the world’s largest inspection, testing and verification companies across a range of business sectors.

The Irish arm, SGS Ireland Ltd, has been asked to take 46,500 driver tests by September this year and a second lot, beginning in July, to deliver at least 100,000 driver tests, over a 15-month period.

Originally the focus was on clearing the backlog in the greater Dublin area, but the RSA revealed it was now moving it further afield. Test centres are expected to open nationwide in areas with the greatest demand.

SGS plans to send letters to learners six to eight weeks ahead of their test appointment offering them a provisional booking date and location. Candidates can rearrange the time, date and/or test centre through SMS text, lo-call number, email, fax or post.

Learners can only rearrange appointments twice, otherwise their name will be deleted from the list and they will have to re-apply for the driving test.

Avoiding taking a driving test through repeat cancellation is not an option.