Testing times for instructors with learners 'desperate' to hit the road

STUDENTS PUTTING LIVES AT RISK TO BEAT 24-WEEK TEST WAIT IN CITY

- By EVIE KNIGHT & RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

"I DON'T want my pupils to die after passing," says a Nottingham driving instructor, warning that learners are now "desperate to take a test without being prepared".

As last-minute bookings surge, he says the race to beat the backlog is putting lives at risk.

Meanwhile, learners who are ready are stuck in limbo, with the average waiting time for a practical test in Nottingham currently standing at 24 weeks. This is compared to an average of 22.3 weeks across the UK, and 22.8 weeks across England.

Getting a licence, it seems, is no longer solely about skill - it's also about who can outlast the system. And the waiting game is only getting worse, say learners and instructors.

Millie Knight, a 17-year-old student, is feeling the strain. She has passed her theory test, feels confident behind the wheel and has been ready for months but what she doesn't have is a test date.

She says: "The closest test centre with any slots is Birmingham in October. That's over an hour away. It just doesn't make sense."

Millie's not alone. Across the city and beyond, young drivers eager for tests are facing months-long waits for practical tests. And the frustration is building.

"It's just not right," says Millie's sister Lola Knight, 17, who's been checking cancellation apps for the both of them daily. She adds: "The only cancellations that come up are so last-minute or too far into the future at a test centre miles away from Nottingham or Derby."

The surge in demand has left many young people stuck as they wait for a chance to move forward. The delays are also holding people back from getting their desired jobs, Russell Jones, who owns a driving school in Bingham, says.

Mr Jones, who has been an instructor for around 30 years, explains: