Redditch man faces losing job due to driving test backlog

A man who faces losing his job because he cannot book a driving test in time has said he is "gutted". Patrick Pinfield from Redditch has been learning to drive for 18 months and first started trying to book a test in January, with the earliest available slot in June. The 31-year-old is a refuse collector at Redditch Borough Council, but his contract will end next month because he has been unable to pass his test within 12 months of his employment starting. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said it was taking steps to make more tests available to tackle the backlog, adding: "We know there's still more to be done." In December, the National Audit Office warned that learner drivers faced months of delays in booking practical tests because of a longstanding backlog that was unlikely to be cleared before 2027. Redditch MP Chris Bloore said it had become a particular problem in the town, with the DVSA telling him part of the issue was down to bots booking tests in order to sell them on at inflated prices. Pinfield said: "It was a year-and-a-half ago when I started learning to drive - I had my theory test done in January. "I've been ready for a long time, but I've not been ab