Almost 300 driving examiners have been attacked by failed learners in last year — as waiting times soar

SCORES of driving examiners have been attacked by failed learners — as test waiting times soar.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) logged 285 physical and verbal assaults in the past year.

But that figure is less than half the 610 incidents in 2021/22.

Some examiners now wear cameras due to safety fears.

It comes as the number of learners waiting to take their practical tests rose above 500,000 — up from 147,716 in January 2020 to 538,702 this August.

The wait of five months or more is partly caused by Covid, a shortage of testers and an unprecedented number of people on provisional licences.

Despite the huge demand, stats show examiners are at high risk of abuse at work.

The most common type is verbal, involving profanities and direct threats.

But the DVSA has revealed some learners have driven off in fits of rage while examiners are still trapped inside their cars.

And one anonymous examiner said a failed learner driver warned them: “You better start running bitch, because I’m going to mow you down.”

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Matt Rayson

December 4, 2023 9:28 pm