NEARLY 5,000 driving tests were cancelled in south Essex last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, figures reveal.

Ahead of tests starting up again today (April 22), the AA said the disruption may have impacted learner drivers' confidence and compounded a difficult time for many young people.

Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency show 1,749 driving tests were cancelled at Southend Test Centre because of the pandemic between March and December.

A further six tests were cancelled for other reasons – including one for a medical absence and five because the examiner took annual or special leave.

A total of 1,718 driving tests were cancelled at the Basildon Test Centre because of the pandemic.

A further 48 tests were cancelled – all of them for medical absences.

The Tilbury test centre meanwhile saw 1,567 driving tests cancelled due to Covid.

A further 98 tests were cancelled for other reasons – including 57 for medical absences and 41 because the examiner took annual or special leave.

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Across Great Britain, 458,000 tests could not take place because of the pandemic in 2020, though the DVSA said there are currently 420,000 booked for when testing centres reopen.

Robert Cowell, interim managing director of AA Driving School, said: "Many pupils will have either had a big break in lessons, which may impact their confidence, or have had to postpone driving lessons for many, many months.

"For young people, who have already suffered disruption to their education, not being able to learn to drive will compound an already stilted start to adult life." 

Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC Foundation, said: “Learner drivers will breathe a sigh of relief that driving lessons and tests are restarting, however the backlog for those waiting for both practical and theory tests is likely to be huge."

He also urged the DVSA to consider a short extension for those whose theory test has either expired, or is about to, but the Government has already said it will not do so.

A DVSA spokesman added: “Ensuring new drivers have current, relevant knowledge and skills to identify developing hazards is a vital part of the training for young and new drivers, who are disproportionality represented in casualty statistics."