Wiltshire driving tests backlog because of poor weather (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Wiltshire driving tests backlog because of poor weather

More than 100 learner drivers in Chippenham face disruption after the Driving Standards Agency cancelled tests because of bad weather.

Wiltshire driving tests backlog because of poor weather

Around 170 driving tests across the county have been affected by the ice and snow, with 103 test cancelled in Chippenham and 62 in Swindon.

Throughout Britain more than 14,000 tests were cancelled due to the weather.

The closure of the test centre in Trowbridge last year means the backlog will affect many learners in West Wiltshire too.

Instructor Matthew Carlsson of Church Farm Driving School in Lyneham, said one of his pupils had been affected by the cancellations.

He said: “It wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be in the end. We had one cancellation, but she was very pragmatic about it and I think she expected it.

“We went to the test centre in Chippenham and you couldn’t see the lines in the bays, so it wouldn’t have been a fair test.

“The side roads were pretty treacherous too so manoeuvres would have been difficult.

“To be fair, I think the Agency did the right thing this time.

“I would advise people who have been affected to keep checking online for any cancellations.”

Instructor Keith Farrow, from the Quikpass Driving School in Chippenham, said it was essential that tests were cancelled.

He said: “Fortunately I didn’t have any tests booked in during the period of cancellation, but I was affected once last year with a similar situation.

“Its unfortunate but it happens - it has to be a fair test for the pupils, and of course they don’t get a chance to practice in these conditions. Imagine if you have never driven in snow or ice before, it wouldn’t be a fair test.

“Most of the main roads around Chippenham have been fine, but the manoeuvres have to be done on side roads which were very icy and dangerous.

“I cancelled some of my lessons if pupils decided they didn’t want to drive, or I felt they didn’t yet have the driving skills required - you have to judge it very much on the individual and whether or not they would benefit.”

Andrew Horton, from Andrew’s School of Motoring, which operates out of both Swindon and Chippenham, said although it was annoying to go through cancellations, safety had to come first.

Mr Horton, who has been a driving instructor for five years, said: “When it’s snow and ice it is a safety issue.

“You cannot risk life and limb if the roads are icy.

“How can learners be expected to complete an emergency stop?”

A spokeswoman for the Driving Standards Agency said: “We have been re-scheduling these tests into all available slots.

“Our customers don’t need to take any action they will be automatically re-booked if they find the new time is not to their liking they can change it on-line.”