Sir Chris asks the Secretary of State for Transport, for sensible accommodation of Driving Test stipulations due to Covid19 delays.

Christopher Chope Conservative, Christchurch

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to extend the time limit between passing Part 1 of the driving instructors’ training and applying for Part 3 of the test beyond twenty four months due to the inability of potential driving instructors to train during the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The requirements for the validity period of the part one pass and the wider approved driving instructor (ADI) qualification process are set in legislation and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to amend them. The two-year limit is in place to ensure applicants have the most up-to-date road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills during the subsequent qualifying tests and at the point they join the Register of ADIs and are allowed to deliver instruction to learner drivers.

The legislation requires that a part three test is booked, not taken, before the expiry of the part one. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has put measures in place to support candidates whose part one pass is due to expire by allowing them to book a part three test online, or if no tests are available they can book a test to hold. Both of these options meet the regulatory requirements.

- ENDS -