Britain’s biggest driving school, the AA, is facing challenges in meeting the growing demand for driving instructors as a backlog of driving tests continues to mount. Recent data from the AA revealed a 5 per cent increase in pupil registrations, highlighting the urgent need for additional instructors across the UK. Notably, certain regions have experienced significant spikes in demand, with Salisbury seeing a 127 per cent rise and Oldham a 97 per cent increase.
Camilla Benitz, the managing director of the AA Driving School, acknowledged the regional surges in pupil registrations. She attributed this increase to prolonged waiting times for driving tests, leading to a scarcity of available slots for new pupils. Benitz stated, “Many of the areas showing high levels of new pupil registrations are densely populated urban areas, and we need additional instructors to match that demand.”
Government statistics revealed a 3 per cent rise in provisional license holders between May 2023 and May 2024, with a notable 6 per cent increase among individuals aged 25 to 30 during the same period. Despite this surge in demand, a DVSA survey indicated that 70 per cent of current driving instructors are not accepting new students, with some instructors extending their working hours to cope.
To manage the overwhelming demand, 63 per cent of instructors have introduced waiting lists, with some having over 20 people awaiting placement. Alarmingly, 15 per cent of instructors anticipate maintaining waiting lists for more than a year. Trish Hubbard, an AA Driving School franchisee, expanded her teaching area to Bristol due to high demand. She expressed empathy for learners facing delays, noting the challenge of balancing her schedule to accommodate all requests.
In response to the escalating demand for driving instructors, the AA seeks to recruit an additional 300 instructors to address the growing backlog. With cities such as Liverpool, Oldham, and Bristol experiencing a pressing need for more instructors, the driving school aims to bridge the gap between pupil demand and instructor availability. The driving school industry faces a crucial juncture as it navigates the challenges posed by increased demand and instructor shortages, underscoring the need for swift action to alleviate the test backlog and support aspiring drivers across the country.