Lib Dem MP Vikki Slade calls for urgent reform to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

On Thursday last week, Vikki Slade MP led a debate on Government time focused on the need for reforms to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Since being elected, Vikki has had nearly 40 constituents write to her raising their own experiences of long waiting times for licence renewals, particularly after medical disclosures. In Vikki’s speech she recognised the scale of work undertaken by the DVLA, with 12.5 million driving licences issued last year but raised serious concerns on behalf of those who require additional medical clearances to drive.

Providing examples of constituents with extraordinarily long wait-times, Vikki hurried the government on its commitment to digitise the medical licensing processes, in line with those for standard licence renewals. Otherwise, she said “the DVLA is stuck in manual whilst the rest of us are on automatic. They are operating a system where great service is not available to everyone, only the healthiest.”

In the second half of Vikki’s speech, she turned to concerns some constituents had raised about the inadequacy of current eye-testing procedures linked to driving, pointing out that though the Government is exploring mandatory eye-tests, “limiting these to over-70s is short-sighted.”

A meeting with the Association of Optometrists before the debate made clear that there are other factors that should be considered with the current reliance on self-declaration highly risky. Vikki also made clear throughout the debate that contrary to some people’s views, better eye-testing should be linked to keeping people driving safely for longer, rather than a means of confiscating more licences. 

Since holding the debate, Vikki has been contacted by even more constituents experiencing problems including Isabella who applied for her licence on the same day as her twin sister. Vikki explained “whilst her able-bodied sister has now been having lessons for months, Isabella is still waiting for the DVLA to even look at her case, despite the medical evidence being clear about her capacity to drive. It is simply unacceptable that we have a two-tier system, and that those who need the freedom that comes with a driving licence most, are more likely to be stuck in a jam with the DVLA.”

Other DVLA issues were shared during the debate including the regulation of number plate sales and on the importance of joining up the changes to driving licences with the Government’s Road Safety Strategy published in January. On this final point, Vikki asked the attending Minister directly for a steer on whether the Government would be legislating for a Road Safety Bill, to transform the strategy into a reality, but did not receive a response.

In the Minister’s closing speech, he both thanked Vikki Slade MP for bringing the debate, and acknowledged the current failures of the DVLA, saying “I am going to say that I am sorry. I am sorry to all those who have been impacted by the delays. People’s frustration is justified and it deserves both explanation and action.”

The Minister also highlighted that a new digital medical services platform had now been launched and that this should improve accuracy and efficiency going forward.

Liberal Democrat MP, Vikki Slade said:

“It was incredibly refreshing to hear a Government Minister issue a straightforward apology where people are so clearly being failed by a public service. There is a real equalities issue here with the difference in processing time and communication stark when you compare people applying for standard licences, with those who are seeking medical renewals. We would not accept that in any other area of society and we should not accept it here."

“If we do not start see change in the coming months, I will again challenge the Government on the commitments they have made for reform."

“It remains the case that in many parts of the country, largely due to issues with public transport, a car can be an essential lifeline. The DVLA has a key role to play in ensuring safety on the roads, but also in enabling everyone to live completely independent lives. I look forward to progress on both of those points.”