Motorists are being warned of potential disruption to DVSA services after workers at the agency voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action.
More than 90 per cent of workers at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency voted to back action through the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union.
It is expected that strike dates will be announced in the near future, which could cause massive disruption to motorists looking to use DVSA services.
The union claimed that its members, who carry out driving tests and approve people to be driving instructors, are in dispute with management over plans to slash waiting times for tests.
Strike dates have not yet been announced
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They said a programme being led by Transport Secretary Mark Harper poses “significant safety risks” to test candidates and examiners.
Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, blasted the DVSA saying that the backlog of driving tests “was their own making”.
He added: “Mark Harper and management in the DVSA have demonstrated that they are willing not only to jeopardise our members’ safety and attack their terms and conditions. They are also showing scant regard for safety standards for driving test candidates.
“This huge ballot result for PCS members at the DVSA indicates that they are prepared to take highly disruptive strike action across England, Wales and Scotland to protect the integrity of the driving test and their existing terms and conditions.
“Although they desperately want to see a reduction in waiting times, our members will not tolerate paying the price for political stunts and managerial failings that threaten to further undermine this vital public service.”
In November 2023, 196,481 practical car driving tests were carried out, the highest number since April 2007.
This also helped reduce the monthly average national driving test wait time to 18.3 weeks.
Many young motorists had complained about the waiting times for driving tests, with some saying it had put them off from getting behind the wheel altogether.
In a statement to GB News, Loveday Ryder, Chief Executive of the DVSA, said: “DVSA colleagues do an outstanding job in helping to keep our roads safe.
“We are working hard to reduce waiting times, which includes employing new driving examiners on flexible contracts with weekend hours.
“The safety of driving examiners, customers, and all road users is hugely important, and we always assess and reduce any risks. We will not tolerate any form of abuse.
“It is disappointing that the PCS ballot supports industrial action. We remain open to talks with PCS to find a resolution. We will update customers on any impact as soon as we have more information.”
The DVSA introduced new rules in January of this year to make sure all examiners wear body cameras during driving tests as a result of an increase in violent and abusive behaviour.
It also changed regulations to allow for tests to be completed on weekends, as well as employing new examiners on a fixed term basis to “allow flexibility”.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Driving tests could potentially be disrupted as a result of the strike action
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From this weekend, December 16, the DVSA has introduced new measures to help and support the safety of examiners through call managers.
