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<p>The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has put in place a number of measures
to increase practical driving tests. These include offering overtime and annual leave
buy back to examiners, asking all those qualified to conduct tests, but who do not
do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, and conducting
out of hours testing (such as on public holidays). The DVSA has also started a recruitment
campaign to increase the number of examiners. The aim is to increase testing capacity
and reduce the backlog as quickly as possible, whilst maintaining a COVID-secure service
for customers and examiners.</p><p> </p><p>As at 10 May 2021, the average waiting
time for a practical driving test is (a) England 13.4 weeks, (b) Herefordshire (Hereford
driving test centre) 15 weeks, (c) North Herefordshire (Ludlow driving test centre)
14 weeks.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The DVSA is currently recruiting up to 300
new driving examiners. If this number of driving examiners are recruited, the number
of practical driving tests will increase by up to 40,000 each month.</p><p><strong>
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