Mass Driving Test Strike Hits UK!
PCS union members working as driving examiners are gearing up for strike action across the UK this December and January. The walkout targets pay, pensions, jobs, and redundancy terms, putting thousands of driving tests at risk.
Which Tests Will Be Affected?
The strike will disrupt a wide range of tests, including:
- Car driving tests
- Motorcycle tests
- Lorry, bus, coach and minibus driving tests (vocational tests)
- Tractor and specialist vehicle driving tests
- Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) part 2 and part 3 tests
- ADI standards checks
- Moped and motorcycle compulsory basic training (CBT) checks (training courses unaffected)
Good news: theory tests are NOT affected by the strike.
Private Test Providers Safe for Now
If your driving test is booked through a private provider, you’re in luck. The strike won’t impact:
- Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 3a (off-road exercises)
- Driver CPC part 4 (practical demonstration) tests
Where and When? The Strike Hotspots
The PCS union warns the walkout will hit examiners at dozens of test centres across the UK, with uncertainty about further locations:
North-East England & Scotland
Key centres include Aberdeen North and South, Airdrie, Ayr, Bishopbriggs, Darlington, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow (multiple sites), Hartlepool, Inverness, Sunderland and more.
North-West England & Yorkshire and Humber
Includes test centres in Manchester (Atherton, Bolton, Cheetham Hill), Sheffield, Hull, Leeds, Carlisle, Blackpool, Liverpool area, Scarborough, Rotherham and others.
East, Midlands & West England plus parts of London
Spanning Birmingham (multiple), Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Cambridge, Northampton, Oxford, St Albans, Watford, and many more.
London, South East, South West & Wales
Affected centres include Ashford, Bromley, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Guildford, Plymouth, Southampton, Swansea, Wrexham and others.
Remember, more centres might be hit without advance notice as the DVSA only confirms impact on strike days.
Stay Alert & Plan Ahead
If you’ve got a test booked between December 2022 and January 2023 at affected centres, expect delays or cancellations. Check your driving test centre’s status regularly and consider booking alternative dates or private tests where possible.
This strike is set to throttle the driving test system nationwide. Keep your eyes peeled for updates and brace for disruption on UK roads.
