Statistics show that over half a billion drivers have been waiting more than 10 months to get their new licenses, after applying via post.
Many people are losing their jobs and cannot travel to family funerals abroad due to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency paper backlog, which MPs claim as they call for action.
The Telegraph reports that, despite warnings to drivers about delays of up to 10 week, 517.881 drivers had waited for approval longer than 10 weekly as of September 1.
The data, obtained via a Freedom of Information request by the newspaper, also showed that there were 185,385 outstanding applications requiring a medical decision which were more than 10 weeks old.
FOI has found that the DVLA took more than 10 months to approve renewals of driving licences for more than half a billion drivers.
In an effort to reduce the paper backlog, the DVLA stated that they had hired additional staff and obtained more office space. This was in response to rolling industrial action as well as social distancing.
Four of five members in the Public and Commercial Services Union voted this month for continuation of strike action, which had been taking place all year.
But only just under 40 per cent of those balloted actually voted, below the legal threshold of 50 per cent, forcing the union to seek urgent negotiations with DVLA senior management to discuss remaining Covid health and safety concerns.
The backlog motivated 62 MPs representing all political parties to sign an open letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, urging him to do something about it.
The DVLA’s longest waiting periods for documents have affected the elderly, learners and people with chronic medical conditions.
These delays often mean that applicants who had submitted crucial ID documents (such as their passport) as part their application are left in limbo. They cannot retrieve the documents until they have been processed.
To reduce the demand at understaffed DVLA offices, new services were created for logbook modifications. Drivers were automatically granted extensions to their expired licences when the pandemic hit.
People were urged to renew their renewals online because they had been spared the effects of the pandemic. However, applicants who require sensitive documents or medical information must submit them by mail.
Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat member from Richmond Park organized the letter of MPs. She stated that applicants are left in precarious conditions due to the backlog.
The statement states that “The delays have reached a point where in some cases our constituents may face losing employment due to the lack of certainty about when they will be legally able to drive.”
We are concerned about the severe delays that have occurred in processing documentation submitted by return applicants.
“Notably,” he said, “Notably”, when people submit important ID such as passports they often are unable find out when they will be returned.
The DVLA backlog has been particularly hard on the elderly and people with serious medical conditions.
In the letter, it is stated that certain constituents were unable to travel to relatives events abroad including funerals because they did not receive their passports back.
The MPs recognize that the DVLA faces a lot of pressure due to a continuing health and safety row with the Public and Commercial Services Union and delays caused by pandemic.
Prior to Covid, the agency claimed that it was within 10 days of processing the majority renewals.
According to a spokesperson for the DVLA, “We process millions of transactions each year. The demand for our contact center is very high at present.”
While our staff will answer all your questions, there may be some delays for those who phone.
“We have hired more employees, increased overtime, and secured additional office space in Swansea, Birmingham, to reduce customer waiting times. Every week we are issuing approximately 200,000 driving permits.
“There is no delay with our online services, and we encourage customers use them whenever possible.”
An earlier report stated that a third the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency staff (DVLA), still work from home.