Access Driving School

21/02/2025

Update from the DVSA: -
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) was served notice by the owner of the
current driving test centre site, because it is being redeveloped for housing. We have
found a permanent new location for a driving test centre, and we are in the process of
negotiating a lease for this. The last day of testing at the Elgar Road site will be on 22
March 2025.
It was hoped that this would mean we could move from the current site to the new
permanent site, but we are being asked to leave by the landlord before the new site is
ready. For this reason, we are invoking the business continuity plan, which involves
running driving tests from the nearby Holiday Inn in Reading. All driving examiners will
move to the temporary site, so there will be no interruption or loss of tests. The first day of
testing at the Holiday Inn temporary site will be 24 March 2025.
Following this, all driving examiner roles will move to the new permeant site later in the
year.
I am unable to confirm the location of the new site yet as it is still commercially sensitive at
this stage of the process; this is normal practice in the commercial property sector. We will
be happy to write to you again when we are able to announce where the permanent site is.
We are fully committed to opening the permanent new driving test centre in Reading as
soon as possible

07/07/2024

https://www.theguardian.com/money/article/2024/jul/04/they-have-you-over-a-barrel-how-scammers-touts-and-bots-took-over-driving-tests

It can take you six months to get a driving test in England – unless you’re willing to pay a middleman up to £350. What’s behind this black market? And is there any way to avoid it?

16/05/2024

Posted on Facebook by special request of candidate Tat Chi Wi today.
Tat passed on his first attempt at the Reading Driving Test Centre today!!!! Tat wishes to inspire anyone else with an upper limb absence to learn to drive.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

25/04/2024

The government have overruled the County Council and given permission for the current Reading Practical Driving Test Centre to be turned into flats.
https://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/detail.asp?AltRef=220258

In Service 1 areas DVSA targets state candidates should not have to travel more than 7 miles to get a Practical Driving Test date.
At all sites, the DVSA's target is that no candidate should have to wait more than 6 weeks to get a Practical Driving Test date.
Before this announcement, getting a Practical Driving Test date at any site, on any date, is currently compared to winning the lottery, as almost all of the time the system states no Practical Test is available on any site, on any date.
For anyone that has not signed my petition on Tests availability even before this announcement please can you do so
https://the.organise.network/campaigns/network-increase-number-of-practical-driving-tests-by-retaining-dvsa-staff-45bfc35f2bf4d2a0
And or use my petition link to directly email the head of the DVSA
https://the.organise.network/campaigns/email-dvsa-examiner-recrutiment-crisis
Whilst everyone gets their heads around this new announcement as well.

I've just emailed the CEO of the DVSA calling on her to tackle to examiner recruitment crisis, which has left many students unable to book a practical driving test. Can you join in?

19/04/2024

Lack of Driving Practical Tests: -A long time ago I created this petition about lack of Driving Practical Tests.

https://the.organise.network/campaigns/network-increase-number-of-practical-driving-tests-by-retaining-dvsa-staff-45bfc35f2bf4d2a0

I stopped publishing it, in order to give the DVSA an opportunity to fix the problem, but feel it is now time to start doing so again. Why? The DVSA measures have not worked in areas like Reading, and many, many other Practical Test sites. The Reading
Practical Test Centre needs 16 permanent Examiners just to maintain demand, every Examiner conducts 7 Tests a day. There are currently 2 permanent Examiners. The situation is not improving, and the majority of the time there are no local Practical Driving Tests on the entire 6 month system. The DVSA have for years kept on readvertising at a ridiculously low salary for area, and not retaining staff again and again and again.
Reading is on the London commuter belt, and even on the London underground, but the DVSA will not consider reinstating the London bonus, and will only pay it to Test sites withing the M25. The Examiners use to get a technical qualification bonus, on top on their Examiner pay band, and the DVSA still pay this for MOT Testers, and the DVSA will not consider reinstating it.
This year it is estimated that 5 million learners will be trying for 1.8 million Practical Driving Test slots. The DVSA are turning down £200, million pounds in Practical Test fees from the Learners who cannot get Test slots, and it is a large waste.
It is costing Test Reading Learners job opportunities simply because they cannot get a Practical Driving Test. Please feel free to listen to one of my learners caught up in this on BBC radio https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0hlrd5y
Go to 1.07.35
If you haven't already done so, please could you consider signing my petition. I am aware there are dozens of petitions out there on this issue, but this one goes to the route of the problem, there are not enough Practical Driving Tests because there are not enough Examiners, there is not enough Examiners because of the changes the DVSA has made to Examiners pay, terms and conditions, so that are not retaining the staff.
It is unfair on the learners losing jobs, and the problem is currently predicted to be 'never ending'
https://the.organise.network/campaigns/network-increase-number-of-practical-driving-tests-by-retaining-dvsa-staff-45bfc35f2bf4d2a0

30/09/2023

Have you been caught up in the problems not getting a Driving Practical Test dates? If yes, please fill in this MP Survey to help highlight the problem
https://mattroddamp.com/drivingtestbacklog
In addition anyone concerned at this on going problem, please can you sign and share this petition
the.organise.network/campaigns/network-increase-number-of-practical-driving-tests-by-retaining-dvsa-staff-45bfc35f2bf4d2a0

Add your name:

20/08/2023

26/01/2022

Changes to The Highway Code: hierarchy of road users
From 29 January rules for all types of road users will be updated in The Highway Code to improve the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.

New hierarchy of road users
The changes being made by the Government on 29 January introduce a new ‘hierarchy of road users’. The new hierarchy explains that those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others.

This principle applies most strongly to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles, cars and motorcycles.

Other more vulnerable road users have a responsibility to reduce danger to people walking . None of this detracts from the responsibility of ALL road users, including people walking, cycling or riding a horse, to have regard for their own and other road users’ safety.

You can read more about these changes on GOV.UK.

Changes at a glance
The latest changes to The Highway Code include:

Giving people walking across and people cycling going straight ahead priority when turning in and out of junctions
Leaving at least 1.5 metres when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds.
Passing people riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle at speeds under 10 mph and allow at least 2 metres of space
Allowing at least 2 metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing a person who is walking in the road
Encouraging people driving vehicles to open their doors with the hand furthest from the door, to help them look over their shoulder behind them to see people cycling or walking nearby
People cycling may ride in the centre of the road or two abreast for their own safety, whilst allowing others to overtake when it is safe for them to do so
Why staying up to date is important
It's important that everyone understands their responsibility for the safety of other road users.

Many of the rules in the code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you’re committing a criminal offence.

If you do not follow the other rules in the code, it can be used in evidence in court proceedings to establish liability.

21/01/2022

Message to all students. The DVSA who are in charge of Driving Tests still require masks for Practical Tests. Please continue to bring and wear masks for Driving Lessons.