Driving Test Chaos: UK Bots Speeding Past DVSA’s Outdated System
The DVSA’s battle against slot-booking bots is like a tech whack-a-mole game, with bots winning. Despite anti-bot measures, the bots adapt quickly, leaving the DVSA’s 18-year-old booking system overwhelmed. Meanwhile, candidates are paying up to £500 for bot services, while the average wait for a practical driving test is 22 weeks.
Hot Take:
Driving tests aren’t just about parallel parking anymore; it’s about navigating the test center’s version of a Game of Thrones plotline, complete with bots, battles, and long waits. Beverley Warmington’s appointment as the new chief exec is like bringing in Jon Snow to handle the Night King of the driving test apocalypse. Can she and her trusty steed of reforms save the day? Or will bots continue to drive us all around the bend?
Key Points:
- New DVSA chief exec Beverley Warmington takes the wheel in January 2024 to tackle test wait times.
- Driving test slots are booked up to 24 weeks in advance with bots running riot.
- Bots and resellers cause havoc, with some candidates paying £500 for a test slot.
- DVSA fights bots with an 18-year-old booking system and no dedicated anti-bot team.
- The National Audit Office highlights low examiner numbers as a key issue.