Everyone has mixed opinions on driving examiners, this will normally be down to their own experiences when up on test.

Despite some views that examiners don’t know what they are doing, they must complete an extensive process in order to become an examiner.

First they must have held their full licence for no less than 4 years and must have no more than three points on their licence.

If their application is successful they will be required to take a learner theory test yet must score considerably better than the pass rate for learners. They must then complete a practical driving test normally covering a specific route of around 25 miles. They like a learner must not receive any serious faults. They then go on to complete a training course to become a DE (Driving Examiner).

Driving examiners are civil servants employed by the (DSA) Driving Standards Agency and are the only people authorised to issue an individual with a full driving licence.

DSA test centres can be found right across the country with examiners taking anywhere up to 35 tests per week. Anyone waiting for a test date will agree that waiting times are dreadful at present. This is typically down to the bad weather we have experienced meaning a large number of tests have had to be rescheduled.

Emily Smith of Britannia Driving School said: “Examiners are trained and employed when there is a demand for them, so hopefully we will see more of them and shorter waiting times very soon.”

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When it comes to legislative changes in the motoring sector, the year ahead is likely to be the most trying for car buyers – especially those who plan on purchasing a new car. Their purchases will be subject to an emissions tax, which the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) believes will not work as intended.

Naamsa in August issued a statement in which it said it accepts the principle of environmental taxes to improve air quality and safeguard the environment in South Africa.

“The purported purpose of the CO2 new car tax regime is intended to send a strong signal to consumers, producers and importers of new vehicles in South Africa specifically to influence consumer behaviour in favour of more fuel efficient, less carbon emitting vehicles and, in the process, to improve ambient air quality in the country,” Naamsa said.

However, the organization believes that the tax regime as currently structured “will fail to achieve the intended objective”.

Drivers are being advised to brace themselves for what experts are expecting to be the “worst ever pothole season”.

Last year, British motorists paid out £320m in repairs to everything from wheels and tyres to suspension failure. “That figure could pale into insignificance” said Emily Smith of Britannia Driving School.

Emily Smith added:”The roads are going to deteriorate incredibly quickly over the coming months. Giving the severity and earlier than normal arrival of harsh wintry conditions, everything is pointing towards a miserable period for drivers”

Anyone can report road defects using Potholes.co.uk, which has contact details for councils across the UK.

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