THOUSANDS of learner drivers across the UK who have already passed their theory test face having to take it again due to the delays caused by the pandemic.

The current DVSA rules say you must take your practical test within two years of passing your theory test.

But - as both lessons and tests have been cancelled for most of the last 12 months and there's now months-worth of people on a waiting list for practical tests, thousands will miss this cut-off.

Donald Bartley, of Acorn School of Motoring in Mynydd Isa, said the situation has being handled in a ‘disgusting’ way for pupils across the country.

He said: “I have pupils with theory tests that are going to run up - through no fault of their own - and I think it’s just an absolute disgrace really that they’re going to have to be thrown back into the already massive backlog locally to get another valid pass.

“It will no doubt have an impact into the future – the wait for a test now is something like three months but you won’t be booking one till you have a valid theory test under your belt.

“I’ve had students turned away from Chester because they were just too full for test takers and people needed to travel up to Rhyl.”

Mr Bartley believes that once the test has been passed it should remain valid and the need for re-testing students is needlessly adding to the current backlog.

An online petition has been set up (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/558160) and gathered thousands of signatures since it was launched earlier this year.

In response, a spokesman for the Department of Transport said: “The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in place to ensure that a candidate’s knowledge is current.

“This validity period is set in legislation and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it.

“We realise this will affect and disappoint some learners, especially young people, but it is important that road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point that new drivers drive unsupervised for the first time.

“Those with theory test certificates expiring will have taken their test in early 2019. Since then, their lessons and practice sessions will have been significantly curtailed during recent lockdowns and it is likely that their knowledge base will have diminished.

“Research suggests that this would be particularly harmful for hazard perception skills, a key factor in road safety.”

The statement adds that ensuring new drivers have “current relevant knowledge and skills” remains “a vital part of the training of new drivers”.

The spokesman continues: “Taking all this into consideration, the decision has been made not to extend theory test certificates and learners will need to pass another theory test if their certificate expires.”

Those affected will have practical driving tests rescheduled to the next available test date.

The Agency is also working to increase test availability when it is safe to resume services, the spokesman adds.