MORE than 900 driving tests at the Steeton centre were cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, new figures show.

Data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) reveals for the first time the impact lockdown had on tests.

A total of 5,004 at Bradford-district centres were cancelled between March and December last year because of the pandemic, including 931 in Steeton.

The statistics don’t include tests that didn’t go ahead for other reasons, such as illness or adverse weather conditions.

Figures have also been published for the number of tests which did take place.

At Steeton, there were 1,088, with a 52 per cent pass rate – just above the national average.

Across Britain, 458,000 tests could not take place because of the pandemic last year.

Lessons have recommenced in England and Wales and test centres have reopened.

But there are warnings of huge demand.

Most centres are currently booked-up until August, with a backlog of around 420,000 tests because of the pandemic.

Robert Cowell, interim managing director of AA Driving School, says he fears how the situation may affect learners.

He added: “Many pupils will have either had a big break in lessons, which may impact their confidence, or have had to postpone driving lessons for many months. For young people, who have already suffered disruption to their education, not being able to learn to drive will compound an already stilted start to adult life.”

He added that extending the validity period of theory test certificates – as has been the case for MOTs and driving licences – or offering a free re-sit, could help reduce demand or at least lessen the financial impact.

Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC Foundation, said: “Learner drivers will breathe a sigh of relief that driving lessons and tests have restarted, however the backlog for those waiting for both practical and theory tests is huge.”

He has urged the DVSA to consider a short extension for those whose theory test has either expired, or is about to. But the Government has said it will not do so.

A DVSA spokesman added: “Ensuring new drivers have current, relevant knowledge and skills to identify developing hazards is a vital part of the training for young and new drivers, who are disproportionality represented in casualty statistics.”

The agency said it was doing all it could to help clear the backlog of tests as quickly as possible.

Measures include offering additional tests by using weekends and bank holidays.

And it said it was regularly adding new appointments to the booking system and recruiting extra driving examiners nationally.