With the new variant Omicron currently sweeping the country, pretty much every service has reintroduced restrictions, and that includes learning to drive.

For those of you having driving lessons or about to take a test, you will know that you must wear a face covering unless you are exempt.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) states that you must wear a face covering inside “cars or small vans during any professionally delivered driving lesson [or] during any driving test.” This also applies to any visits to a driving theory test centre as well.

But recently, we’ve been hearing stories from frustrated learners and their instructors who say that they’ve pulled up in the test centre car park, only to be told by the examiner that the test is cancelled – even before they’ve had chance to get out of the car in some cases. For example:

Source: https://twitter.com/lastpooloflight/status/1467844107292741633

Source: https://twitter.com/eleanormayxoxo/status/1468541903763345413

Stay covered

According to instructors, the DVSA has recently updated its information to them in its HGV driving lessons and tests info, which states:

“We will not allow the test to take place if we see an instructor or their pupil not wearing a face covering whilst sharing a vehicle before the test unless they are exempt.”

While the information is for HGV testing in this instance, numerous instructors have stated in professional forums that this rule also applies to car driving tests as well.

What the DVSA says

We spoke to the DVSA who confirmed that this is indeed an official rule, which is also detailed here. A spokesperson for the agency told Theory Test Pro:

“We [state in our rules] that you must wear a mask during any professionally delivered driving lesson and during any driving test. In most cases, candidates will have been in a car with their instructor prior to their driving test for a lesson in preparation for their test, in which case a mask must be worn.

If the candidate arrives for a test without a mask, the examiner therefore has the right to refuse the test.”

The DVSA says that if a candidate or instructor feels they have been unfairly treated by the examiner or the test centre, they should follow the complaints procedure – you can find it head here – and the complaint will be investigated.

Be safer

It’s worth bearing in mind why the rule is in place. The issue is that, while on your way to the test, you did not wear a face covering. This means the examiner conducting your test risks being sat in a vehicle that just had two occupants who weren’t masked up.

For examiners, it poses a potential risk to their health – if either you or your instructor have Covid, it will increase the chances of the pathogen being present in the air inside the car and more likely be present on the vehicle’s interior surfaces as well.

Exempt from masks

Do remember that if you are unable to wear a face covering for an age, health or disability reason, you don’t have to.

However, if you are not going to wear a face covering during the test, you must let the DVSA know at the time of booking so it can source an examiner who is prepared to conduct the test with someone not wearing a face covering.

If you do not inform the DVSA at the time of booking and turn up without a face covering, the test centre will cancel your driving test.

Why masks?

According to the National Associations Strategic Partnerships, which represents approved driving instructors, the key reasons for wearing a face covering are:

  • Evidence suggests transmission is mostly happening in indoor spaces where people are in close proximity.
  • Face coverings worn over the nose and mouth reduce the spread of coronavirus droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking.
  • The main purpose is to protect others from Covid, rather than yourself. If everyone wears one, the risks drop for all.
  • Masks can also help reduce virus spread from people who may be contagious but have no symptoms.
Moving forward

With tests already being cancelled at the last moment, the wait for driving tests increasing and the DVSA asking learners to only take their test when they are ready to, it is important that you do all you can to ensure your test does happen on the day.

After all, to spend weeks getting ready for that driving test only to be turned away on the big day itself because of a face covering slip-up would be a huge shame.

So mask up before heading to the test centre, put up with the inconvenience, and focus on passing your test so you can head out on to the road as fully qualified driver. We reckon such a reward is well worth the unpleasantness of wearing a face covering.

Know Your Code

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