Fife learner drivers travel as far as Carlisle and Aberdeen to sit theory test
and live on Freeview channel 276
Alex Rowley MSP has called for increased capacity to allow them to sit the papers much closer to home.
Lockdown has had an impact on the examinations, with drivers in Fife facing some real challenges.
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Hide AdMr Rowley said: ““Even before Covid there was a question about capacity for sitting the theory test with Fife having one centre in Leven.
“Given the massive backlogs there is a need for an increase in availability.
“ I understand there are options for increasing capacity and I am calling on all Fife politicians to work together to persuade this authority to increase the capacity locally.”
Mr Rowley, who covers Mid Scotland and Fife, raised his concerns with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVLA) which is responsible for overseeing all driving and driving theory tests.
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Hide AdIt acknowledged a “considerable backlog” of candidates waiting for both theory and practical driving tests.
In a letter to Mr Rowley Loveday Ryder, the chief executive, said; “It is likely when theory tests do resume, they will not do so at full capacity because we shall have to work within physical distancing rules.
“We have been working during lockdown with Pearson VUE, the organisation that conducts the theory test for us, to explore ways in which it can further expand theory testing capacity in Scotland.”
Ms Ryder also confirmed that anyone who has sat the theory test but has not passed the driving test within 2 years will have to re-sit the theory test.