MORE than 400 driving test slots were missed at the Kingswood centre in 12 months – despite the long waiting list for test dates.
The Government has pledged to try to solve the problem of cancellations, which are affecting all test centres.
It is largely caused by instructors and others using bots to block-book tests with the intention of selling on the slots at inflated prices.
The figures have emerged following a freedom of information request to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
On average a candidate fails to attend a test at both the centres in Bristol every day, according to new figures revealed after a freedom of information request. Similar revelations at centres elsewhere in the country have sparked concerns that instructors are unable to sell on every test.
This means that while many learners find booking a test in their home city almost impossible, without paying for an app or a scalper, every day there is likely a test cancelled in both the two Bristol centres because nobody turns up, leaving examiners with nothing to do in the meantime.
The data shows that between October 2023 and last September, 439 tests didn’t go ahead in Kingswood, which represents about three per cent of all tests conducted.
Under the current system, learners are advised to log on to the DVSA’s website just before 6am on Mondays to attempt to book a test, when a new batch is released, although often they are all booked up within a few minutes.
The DVSA is changing who can book driving tests, potentially so that only learners can book tests for themselves, and stopping instructors from doing so. Another option is removing the ability to swap tests or change locations.