RSA say 'significant strides' being made as driving test times drop

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has said it is pleased to announce the continued strong progress in reducing waiting times for driving test invitations, as part of its ongoing Driving Test Action Plan.

The average national waiting time to receive a driving test invitation in Ireland has fallen to 14.1 weeks compared to its peak in April which saw drivers waiting a staggering 27 weeks for their test.

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The RSA said they remain firmly on track to achieve the goal of reducing average waiting times to 10 weeks by September 2025 as a result of a range of targeted measures implemented to increase capacity and improve efficiency.

The plan in place sees the accelerated training of new testers, expansion of testing hours which includes overtime on weekday evenings, Saturdays, and bank holidays, and targeted intervention in the booking system that will ensure invitations to tests are issued to areas of greatest demand. 

Commenting on the progress, Brendan Walsh, Chief Operating Officer of the RSA, said:

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"These results are a clear sign that our action plan is working. We’ve made significant strides in just a few months, thanks to the dedication of our staff and the support of the Department of Transport.

"While we’re not at the finish line yet, we are on track to meet our SLA target of 10 weeks by September 2025. Our focus remains on ensuring that learner drivers across the country can access timely testing and progress safely to full licensure."