Thousands of driving tests cancelled in West Midlands

Thousands of driving tests were cancelled due to bad weather in the West Midlands, figures revealed today.

Driving instructors have criticised examiners for cancelling tests even when weather conditions started to improve.

Between November 23 and December 11 there were 1,142 cancelled tests in the Black Country and Staffordshire because of bad weather, creating a backlog.

A further 1,596 tests were postponed in Birmingham.

Figures show 293 tests were cancelled in Wolverhampton, 233 in Lichfield, 206 in Cannock, 167 in Wednesbury, 140 in Stafford and 103 in Lower Gornal.

Driving instructor Steve Davies, who runs Wolverhampton-based LJ Small driving school, said: "The weather wasn't as bad as we were seeing elsewhere in the country but in Wolverhampton there were still eight days worth of cancellations.

"We understood the need when the snow was bad but it has caused problems for our pupils.

"It is really hard to convince a family that they need to pay for more lessons because their son or daughter's test was cancelled and they can't get another slot for a long time, and they need at least one lesson a week so they have the best chance of passing.

"We had one test on December 1 which was cancelled and the next available date was February 14."

Stourbridge driving instructor Adrian Turner said he had not experienced any problems with tests being cancelled at Lower Gornal recently.

But Mr Turner, who runs the AJ Turner School of Motoring, said the tests would only have been cancelled if there was good reason.

"Tests are very rarely cancelled and only then on safety grounds which would have been the issue here," he said.

"I personally fully support the cancelling of tests on these grounds and respect the judgment of the driving examiners to do the right thing."

Driving Standards Agency spokesman Stephen Small said: "The DSA doesn't conduct practical driving tests in adverse weather, for example when the roads are icy.

"This is for the safety of both the person taking the test and the examiner.

"Candidates due to take their practical test should follow the advice on their appointment letter and call their test centre if there is snow or ice in the local area on the day of their test.

"Any candidate whose test is cancelled will have another appointment arranged automatically at no further cost."

Across the country a total of 41,915 tests were cancelled due to the bad weather.

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