Transport chiefs are paying driving test examiners to simply “kill time”, due to a large amount of missed appointments for driving tests, alleges an evidently frustrated spokesperson. The road safety campaign organization Parc has compiled statistics showing that between the start of the previous year and July 31st, 2024, an alarming 11,287 individuals didn’t show up for their driving examination.
In the previous year, there were 6,440 missed test appointments, and until July of this year, another 4,847. Meanwhile, statistics from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) reveal that 6,016 candidates didn’t appear for the exam up to October 2024, making the prevailing total stand at 12,456.
Parc obtained its data from both parliamentary facts and the available data from RSA. There has also been an observed rise in test waiting times, with the longest observed in Co Carlow at 29 weeks, succeeded by Dún Laoghaire at 27 weeks, and Co Kildare at 25 weeks.
An individual learning to drive can get a permit for a maximum of two years which can be extended by another two years before they’re obligated to register for a driving examination. If the candidate doesn’t show up for the appointed test, they are allowed to renew their permit for another year, provided they show a letter of application. This process can be repeated yearly and indefinitely.
With each driving test priced at €85, the RSA managed to hold onto nearly €1 million in fees from missed tests. Furthermore, statistics from last year revealed 28,570 individuals onto their third or subsequent learning permits who have never taken a driving test. This implies some of them may have been driving almost 30 years without ever receiving a full driving licence.
According to Susan Gray from Parc, more driving examiners are being hired, with 75 having already started and another 70 expected to begin testing from March of the next year. Gray expressed annoyance about examiners being paid while waiting for test candidates who don’t show up. She insisted that this no-show problem needs to be addressed as it is wasting valuable time of the examiners.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RSA) has expressed intentions of instituting mandatory tests for drivers before renewing their permits, according to a recent statement by Transport Minister James Lawless. The hope is that this will reduce the number of learner drivers on the road. Many of these drivers are anxiously awaiting a test and are regularly practicing their driving skills.
Since the launch of a new booking platform in 2020, the RSA has reported significant progress. However, the issue of no-shows for tests remains. In 2019, a record high of 24,472 individuals (11.1 per cent of total) were no-shows. Progressively, the figure reduced to 4,131 (2.3 per cent) in 2022, 6,440 (3 per cent) in 2021 and 6,016 to date this year, as indicated by the RSA’s data.
Although there’s been a trivial increase over the last few years, the overall no-show percentage maintains below 3.5 per cent, states the RSA. They plan to employ additional testers and expect that this will result in shorter wait times for customers.
Former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has received confirmation that learners will be obligated to undertake a test before acquiring a renewed second learner permit, once the current backlog of driver testing has been addressed. The concern is that those not showing up for their tests are causing significant delays in reducing the waiting list.
Across counties, road fatalities were on the rise, with 17 lost lives reported in Mayo, the highest, followed by Dublin with 16. Tragically, 15 learner drivers were implicated in fatal accidents in 2023, with six of them among those who tragically lost their lives.