Renewing official documents is a pain in the proverbial at the best of times – but did you know that the DVLA currently has a backlog of over SIX months?
While this may be just annoying for some, it actually has far-reaching – and potentially dangerous – repercussions. The delays at the DVLA are risking safety, as thousands of drivers remain on the roads when medically unsound to do so. On the flip side of the problem, thousands of drivers who have been declared medically fit to return to the road, are unable to drive again, threatening their ability to work.
The DVLA recently admitted to struggling with a backlog of applications, meaning that British drivers can wait more than six months for a new or renewed licence. There are currently more than 300,000 drivers with medical conditions that are now waiting for their returned licence. This figure has increased nearly 50 percent in the last 12 months.
The situation at the DVLA may also lead to those who should be off the road remaining on it, increasing risk to British road users.
Our Choosemycar.com founder, Nick Zapolski, said that the issue is one that has been raised by the company’s customers on numerous occasions.
“It’s terrible that the backlog is causing some people to be unable to return to work, even though they have been declared medically fit to drive. It’s unacceptable that people who rely on their ability to drive to work, or conduct their normal lives, are being forced to wait up to a year to drive again.
“While that’s terrible for the individual – and indeed the economy – what’s more immediately worrying is the fact that drivers who are medically unfit can continue to drive for months, due to the chaos at the DVLA.
“It’s endangering British drivers – and all road users – and the situation must be urgently rectified.”
