The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has warned learner drivers of strike action that could impact their driving tests this month.
Some examiners from the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are planning to walk out across five days in June. This could mean some driving tests, including cars and motorcycles, might not go ahead.
Examiners will strike on Thursday June 15, Friday June 16 and Monday June 19 in London, south-east and south-west England and Wales. Industrial action will affect the rest of England, including the north west, on Thursday June 22 and Friday June 23.
Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link
Not all examiners are PCS union members, and even if they are, they might choose not to go on strike. Those with tests on strike days are being advised to attend their appointment as usual, unless they are told otherwise by the DVSA.
Learner drivers can also choose to rearrange their test to another date. Three working days' notice must be given to change it, or driving students will be charged again.
The DVSA added that theory tests will not be impacted by the strike action. Driving tests taken with a private provider will not be affected, either.
The strike action might affect:
- car driving tests
- motorcycle tests
- lorry, bus, coach and minibus driving tests (these are known as vocational tests)
- tractor or specialist vehicle driving tests
- approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 (driving ability) or part 3 (instructional ability) tests
- ADI standards checks
- moped and motorcycle compulsory basic training (CBT) checks - but not the training courses themselves
Which test centres will be affected by the strike?
The DVSA said that the PCS union has informed it of which test centres will be affected. However, it also highlighted that it may not be fully aware of all the centres affected until the day of the strike.
The following centres are affected in the north west:
- Atherton
- Barnsley
- Barrow In Furness
- Beverley LGV
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Blackpool
- Bolton
- Bredbury
- Bridlington
- Bury
- Carlisle
- Carlisle LGV
- Chadderton
- Cheetham Hill
- Chester
- Chorley
- Crewe
- Heysham
- Macclesfield
- Nelson
- Norris Green
- Preston
- Rochdale
- Rotherham
- Sale
- Southport
- Speke
- St Helens
- Upton
- Wallasey
- Walton LGV
- Warrington
- West Didsbury
- Widnes
- Workington
See the full list of affected centres and find more information here.
READ NEXT:
