Learner drivers in Somerset and Wiltshire are facing unprecedented delays of up to six months to book practical driving tests, revealing a system struggling to cope with overwhelming demand. New data highlights severe backlogs at test centres, forcing many applicants into long waits and significant travel distances.
Anna Sabine, MP for Frome and East Somerset, has launched a survey to collect firsthand accounts from learners caught in this bottleneck. With no driving test centres located in the eastern part of Somerset, candidates must travel to distant locations like Taunton, Yeovil, Weston-Super-Mare, or even cross into Wiltshire just to take their exams.
Figures provided to Anna by the Transport Secretary show average wait times at the Trowbridge test centre extending into several weeks, with some delays reaching an astonishing 24 weeks—nearly six months. Weston-Super-Mare and Yeovil in Somerset aren’t faring much better, with waits of 21 and 22.5 weeks respectively.
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Anna describes the system as “simply overwhelmed by demand.” She explains that when new booking slots open on Monday mornings—released 24 weeks in advance—thousands of hopeful learners are already waiting in a queue, some 22,000 strong.
“In rural areas like Frome and East Somerset, driving is essential,” Anna explains. “With limited public transport, many depend on cars to get to work, school, medical appointments, and to buy groceries.”
She emphasizes the financial burden on learners, saying, “Learning to drive is already costly, and facing a six-month wait to sit the test is unacceptable. For those who don’t pass on their first attempt—which is common—they could face even more years of delay before gaining independence on the road.”
On average, drivers take between two and three attempts to pass the practical test, meaning the prolonged waiting times significantly disrupt progress.
“These massive delays cut off rural communities from vital opportunities and services,” Anna warns.
By gathering testimonials through the survey, Anna hopes to pressure authorities to increase driving test availability, particularly in underserved rural regions, and help restore timely access for learner drivers.