BBC Breakfast Interview | Fraudulent Driving Tests

Some people have been asking about my interview on BBC breakfast this week. Now with proper stereo audio!
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[@rstevens7711]

Trying to make your points on television, during a live broadcast, is really tough. You did very well there.

[@thealbagalavanter9986]

I agree

[@rufusgreenleaf2466]

It's not people going for their test too early that worries me in this world, it's full license holders that are too arrogant and even oblivious to adapt to any accommodated driving.

[@clubsport_46330]

I passed after 12 lessons from no behind the wheel experience at 18, failed the theory twice before I passed that. We genuinely do need a reform of the tests as I genuinely think it took me at least 5 years to actually understand the roads and safety behind some of the laws and why they exist…

[@Kewickviper]

What is accomodated driving?

[@rufusgreenleaf2466]

@@Kewickviper Perhaps not the best of words but basically to help out more on the roads.

[@ragetobe]

I passed my car licence test without a single lesson first time, since then I’ve also passed my CBT and DAC course then on to the Police motorcycle course and IAM advanced course, all lessons were provided by myself, all knowledge was gained by myself (credit to mentors where due), when I see people put out blanket statements like this it’s often true they themselves are guilty of exactly that they accuse others of. If you have ever done an advanced course you will know how to reduce risk including how to remove your ego from any given situation.

[@rufusgreenleaf2466]

@@ragetobe I'm not guilty of anything, just stating observation from the world i've seen. Can you give me a legitimate argument instead of flexing, that's what your comment is.

[@picklestheswift]

I understand what Ashley says about people taking the tests too early, my instructor had the same issue with another student. Some people are taught how to pass the test and not how to drive thankfully my instructor taught me how to drive, and I'll be forever grateful 😊

[@hikaru9624]

Same.

[@smilerbob]

My instructor spent the first 20ish lessons teaching me to drive and then the next lessons was teaching to pass the test like you (which I did second time)

[@Poodz_]

In Australia (NSW at least) You are supposed to drive 120 hours before you can even attempt the test. Perhaps this is a bit much, and a hassle for parents or partners who need to take up a lot of the teaching responsibilities, but the pass rate is much, much higher on what is essentially the same test. For certain, me and my friends were all better drivers than the people I know here in England who have just passed their tests with probably only 20-30 hours under their belts. The main thing causing us danger was more our stupidity and risk taking, rather than our incompetence.

[@IndiBrony]

I got a student just two weeks ago; she'd been learning through a friend. She told me on Thursday that her test is on Monday. I told her straight up that because she's not at the standard *I* think she should be at to pass her test that I wouldn't be taking her. ...so she's doing it in her own car. I feel for the examiners who have to go into someone's personal car with no dual controls, having zero clue of their standards before going on the road. At least a licensed instructor should be providing learners who are competent, but with people who come of their own volition could have had literally no time behind the wheel and put the examiner's life in their own hands.

[@picklestheswift]

@@IndiBrony yes, my instructor once had a student who's Mum kept on moving his test further forward and she hadn't actually taught him all the manoeuvres! Full credit to you driving instructors, I know I could never do it myself 😅! I'm forever grateful for all my instructor taught me and I kind of miss our lessons.

[@benjiviews4300]

Good job Ashley, you were cool, calm and collected and made really good points!

[@CheckDisOutpeeps]

He’s always calm and collected to be fair. Knew he’d be a natural on TV.

[@hikaru9624]

One of the best pieces of advice I was given by my late dad regarding my driving lessons was this; take the test when you *think you* are ready. I was probably ready to take my test long before I thought I was. This was back in 2012 and passed first time that year.

[@picklestheswift]

I passed first time too! That was in June this year!

[@hikaru9624]

@@picklestheswift congratulations!

[@BaldMancTwat]

I had the same advice but did my test during lockdown, so I still had to wait several months after I was ready, but to be honest the daily practice leading up to that probably helped me pass first time too

[@hikaru9624]

@@BaldMancTwat that's unfortunate about lockdown stalling things for you but congratulations on passing!

[@jollybodger]

Sound advice for anybody with common sense, unfortunately these days common sense doesn't seem so common and people think they're ready to take the test once they can pull off without stalling.

[@ibs5080]

Wow Ash, this was a real surprise and great to watch. Great well spoken voice too. I mean, I always knew you had a good voice from your videos of course but it really shined through in this tv interview.

[@picklestheswift]

1:52 you're correct. The examiner had a high resolution coloured picture of me on his tablet and made sure it was me. He took a good look around 5-7 seconds

[@Cream147player]

I think years of KZbin experience served you very well there Ashley. Though I can tell you're a bit nervous (not a surprise given you're speaking on national television) you're an excellent communicator and that comes through here.

[@DylRicho]

What's really infuriating to me is that my theory runs out on August 2nd, and I'll be forced to redo it again, even though I've been trying to book a driving test for over a year at this point. I fail to see how that is my fault and why I should be penalised for it.

[@andybennett1133]

Yh, it's bollox m8, that happened to my oldest lad when he was 17, he's 21 now. and still not had a practical test cuz he's failed the theory a few times since

[@snuffypop]

Mine ran out because I couldn't have tests due to covid. I understand needing to retake, but having to pay again is bs imo.

[@Johnconno]

Thicko's.

[@neiltill]

Thanks for posting this Ash, was told about it by a friend at work who knew i watched your channel. After i failed my first test in 1992 (which i failed)i was only 1 month before i resat my test and now its unbelievable how long it is to re take tests, no wonder the scammers are taking advantage.

[@Larry]

Six months? I tried to book one back in March and they were fully booked well into 2024, really stressing me out!!!

[@Hill_Walker]

People might not be so desperate to pass their test, if after failing there was the option of viable, reliable and affordable public transport to enable them to progress their lives.

[@CFMLEAP]

Not really. When you’re young you just want to drive around with your friends and feel free for the first time. It sucks that these days you can’t even find a single test online for booking.

[@swecreations]

@@CFMLEAPThe way you talk has me thinking you've never experienced truly good public transport.

[@Grubbygund]

Completely agree, the public transport in the UK is non-existent

[@StAtIc__5]

Great interview Ashley. Thank you for uploading this. Keep up the great work as always. Well done👏

[@smilerbob]

I would have no issue in renewing my photo card every few years. Hair styles (or amount of hair for some of us) and also life itself can change a lot of our features I was asked my date of birth when I took my first test over 20 years ago and then I was asked my postcode on my second test. I think those sort of questions will catch the vast majority out if they aren’t who they say they are Good interview and good to get the awareness out there 👍

[@picklestheswift]

I hate my driving license photo, I look like a wanted criminal, I can't wait to get my renewal photo in 2033 😂

[@smilerbob]

@@picklestheswift On my old licence photo I looked like an escaped pirate 🏴‍☠️

[@picklestheswift]

@@smilerbob I know it's so embarrassing, my instructor wanted to see that I definitely had my license on my test day and she kept laughing at it 😕🤦

[@TestGearJunkie.]

​@@picklestheswift *Licence*

[@lee-r56]

​@@picklestheswift There's nothing forcing you to wait.

[@stephenc6648]

Slightly different issue I know, but when I was having lessons 20+ years ago, my instructor told me that he had pupils who would be dropped off at the end of a lesson and quite blatantly drive off in their own cars to do the school run. Also he had repeat test failures who openly said they would drive illegally if they failed again.

[@NPW007]

I just applied for my provisional, your more helpful than ever and well done for making it on TV!

[@GreenLycan]

Nice to see you helping people to be aware outside of youtube, correcting the preaenters on their misconceptions, nice one!

[@mannie7028]

Wonderful to see Ashley on prime tv. You deserve it. I’m totally delighted for you 👋👋👋

[@Direkin]

5-6 months wait time? Pish! When I did my retake, I had to wait 10 months. While preparing for that next test my instructor informed me that the wait list was now at 18 months.

[@rebeccaconlon9743]

Depends on the area.

[@Slaeowulf]

Amazing Ash! This might feel a bit like the culmination of all your hard work, being on national television, but you have helped me to be a better driver, you no doubt help hundreds of others every week, and this is just a stepping stone to greater and greater success. Keep up the amazing work, mate.

[@ludditedred9644]

You conducted yourself really well here, and got some excellent points across. Nicely done 👌

[@margaretnicol3423]

Ooooh - look - our Ashley's on telly! Well done, Ashley. Keep up the good work.

[@laceandwhisky]

Sadly been happening for years. Now it is happening more. All because of lock downs and lack of examinations. I'd be happy with Ash doing both jobs instruct and examine. So long as it isn't their own students what's the issue

[@TheSGRob]

the pay and working environment is so much worse for an examiner than an instructor and considering Ash also trains instructors i can't imagine he'd be too keen on becoming an examiner. At least they're the issues i can see with it.

[@Black.Sabbath]

I'm glad you didn't blame "Covid"

[@Sol_VI]

Conducted yourself really well in this little interview. Awesome that you got to do this in the studio this time Ashley! I must say I don't find the rise in fraudulent testing surprising. I started learning to drive at the back end of 2020, and with the immense wait times, and the added pressure of failing, and then having to wait for months for another test date, I definitely fell into the "I just want this over with" mentality. I had been learning to drive for more than a year and was confident. It was just doing that test. I was thankfully able to pass earlier this year but I could definitely see a lot of people doing whatever it takes to get through that test to just be on the road.

[@bekah4137]

I completely agree! I passed during covid 21 and if I’d have failed I’d have had to start from “scratch” and redo my theory. Thankfully I’d taken my time and put a lot of energy in to my learning that this wasn’t necessary but the pressure was definitely still there! I can see how people get desperate.

[@alundavies4513]

I passed My test 12 days after My birthday

[@davidpierce3217]

Oh hey man, nice job on the interview!

[@suzanar7186]

Well done Ashley! Thanks for this 👏🏻🙏🏻

[@kiko5965]

Well done Ashley, been watching your channel for a few years now. Great to see!!

[@insightphoto]

Part of my job is to go out and inspect damaged vehicles that have been involved in an RTC. Sometimes we're also instructed to cold call the policyholder to check if their description matches the person identified at the scene of the collision

[@CasualWatcher279]

I feel one of the points for people to go quite so far is the feeling of need to get one to work. Asking people if they own a car on an application form or employers not giving any leniency for those whom need to take public transport.

[@josephmarsh8235]

Thanks for sharing this Ashley. I thought you were brilliant on the show 👍

[@Mirrland1]

Interesting to pick up on the pictures on licenses - Mine is actually from when I was 13 / 14, taken from my passport and then somehow allowed to be placed onto my driving license which is down to last me until I’m 28…

[@adrianbishop8510]

I did my driving lessons earlier in 2023. I lived in Folkestone at the time. My theory was in January 2023, I then booked my practical. The earliest date was September 2023! If it wasn’t for the apps available, I wouldn’t have been able to get earlier booking - in the end I was fortunate to get a last minute cancellation in May 2023! The waiting list and wait time for exams was ludicrous. It needs a major overhaul as the DVLA are clearly incompetent at managing the process efficiently.

[@elliot8595]

What great set love the lighting

[@grahamnutt8958]

Thanks for posting this Ash. Great interview. The old joke about getting a D/L from a Cereal packet really does spring to mind here. I've reported many inappropriate posts on KZbin in the past for reasons but - like a Boomerang - they keep coming back. Some of the problems definitely are down to the Palatforms AND the lack of timely intervention to remove posts/links/sites. Its definitely an uphill struggle. Stay safe out there.

[@ToeJam161]

Went to look for your interview on Iplayer but they remove the breakfast shows. Cheers Ashley

[@grbadalamenti]

In Italy the police stopped an old man and it came out he had no driving license, he had been driving to work and in his home area for 50 years no problem at all😂😂😂

[@Lee.Willcox]

Awesome. You did great, well done !

[@LEWIS1992]

Wow you're basically a celebrity now! Congrats - this is huge!

[@philkasafir.]

These adverts are all over facebook right now and it drives me insane! We have enough idiots on the road, people are literally using fake ID's to sit the test on someone elses' behalf.. i hope they get caught and sent down!

[@leeandjancruise]

Pretending to be someone else for a driving test has been going on for years that I can remember, comes to light now and again.

[@SimonBrownDriving]

Absolutely superb!

[@zyban99]

Awesome Ash 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@andyclark8991]

Smashed it Ashley, you did. Smash it, love the awesome video

[@nothereandthereanywhere]

Congrats Ashley to being on BBC Breakfast, well deserved! About the subject, the same is apparently in Scotland, where you have to wait for basic lessons for at least 6 months. That is from a friend of mine that is currently learning. Hope the situation will improve soon Stay safe everyone on the roads!

[@steamhammer2k]

In 1976 i waited much longer for a test (8- 9 months) , no one then seemed concerned it was the norm.

[@Howie57]

In '77 I didn't wait very long after failing

[@TheSGRob]

yea but there was also far less cars on the road then and i guess less of a need to drive for most people. I've got so many students at the moment who can't get the job or the promotion they need/want until they have a licence

[@steamhammer2k]

@@TheSGRob Yes that is a problem i agree. I did not need a licence in 76, but it did help me get to work easier. The test these days looks so much harder. I think my C +E way back was easier than the car test is now.

[@RicardoPetrazzi]

As someone who holds a keen interest in driving and road safety, becoming a qualified instructor is something i have considered doing in the past. If I choose to do so (which I am again strongly considering) I would be honored to be in the Glasgow franchise of the Ashley Neal School of Motoring!

[@TestGearJunkie.]

I'm told (yes, ok, by friends and family..!) that I'm a reasonably good driver (I hold motorcycle, car and until I retired, bus) licences, but I don't have the patience to teach people. I take my hat off to Ashley and those like him, who do.

[@JohnSefton]

Ashley. Thank you for hilighting this problem on National television.That will go some way to putting an end to this illegal activity.It's very scary knowing that there could be some illegal drivers on the same road as yourself.That may also explain why there has been a decline in road courtasy over the years.Of course ,the ammount of road traffic these day's dosen't help.I believe that my last point makes people desperate & that's why they take those dangerous short cut's.

[@michaelanwyll]

Given how poor driving standards have become, i suspect there are millions out there who have not done a lesson let alone a test.

[@a.cameron207]

Since I failed my driving test before I went to University, and then lived for a long time close to where I worked, I ended up re-taking my test nearly 20 years later. What astonished me was the degree of anti-cheating measures implemented in the theory exam. Clearly there has been some problems arising there as well.

[@Jlk-rm1jv]

Who would need to cheat in that, it's so simple, a child could pass it.

[@fucktheworld1207]

Super 🌟 Ashley 👌🏻

[@ralphalder14]

Good to see you on TV Ash !

[@johntheman2006]

Prime Time Ashley. Well done.

[@JustOneQuestion]

After many years of experience on the road it's almost comical to hear people worry about fraudulent license holders... I see daily valid license holders who can't even navigate a roundabout, let's put things into perspective.

[@ashley_neal]

True

[@jamesellis3535]

Very true. Ever noticed the total hesitation of some when confronted by a roundabout that is just white paint on the road instead of a big circle covered in grass and flowers.

[@Stallzyx]

I mean roundabouts aren't exactly the nicest of things lol as someone who hadn't driven much or at all for three years. Right turns also take a bit of getting used to

[@gsxr-bt2qg]

Can't stop it,i heard of an examiner working with a driving instructor offering a pass for £1500 after lessons.

[@CactusforceX]

My boy AN making the news again, respec man your videos are great

[@buzzdem]

It's been happening for years. There was a girl I worked with that was totally hopeless at driving. One day I jokingly asked "who passed your test for you" she wasn't the brightest of sparks and answered "my cousin" before realising what she'd confessed to.

[@goodyeoman4534]

Did you report her?

[@lickmygooch1013]

I hope you reported the scumbag to the police

[@Who-cu9eu]

She might of meant that the cousin gave her good advice or just did driving lessons with her cousin not actually the cousin talking the test lol

[@nigelleyland166]

How things have changed, there is no photo on my license, the young ladies at the car hire service has never seen one like it before!

[@jfluffydog2110]

Licence *

[@sarac.3259]

​@@jfluffydog2110sticker in the post for you

[@jfluffydog2110]

@@sarac.3259 Are you sure you don't need help spelling my address?

[@thomaselliot2257]

Licence is the noun and license is the verb . However license is used as a noun and a verb in America.

[@jfluffydog2110]

@@thomaselliot2257 I'm aware.

[@PhilMacVee]

Well said Ashley, TV star!

[@Yuehanlad]

On a similar note, some years I knew 3 brothers that shared one taxi badge as they looked sort of alike in the photo.

[@Highran56]

Mad that retests could take half a year. I took four attempts around 12 years ago and remember being able to book retests within a few weeks, sometimes as quick as two weeks if theres cancellation but these days are rare for that to happen due to the pandemic

[@TacticalKeyboardOperator]

you know what i`d like to see statistics on this namely race, nationality, age, sex, location of testing/instruction because i bet this problem might not really be a "english" problem... also believe it may have issues to do with the way examiners bias examinations eg person testing my mum when she was 40 gave her the most leniency humanly possible but then me doing my test at 19 i couldnt do so much as fart without failing the test .... honestly the reason i passed my last test was because i worn jeans instead of tracky pants was not my idea was my instructures idea.. it worked!!

[@buildbright]

Ashley Neal is focking brilliant! My van has an Ashley Neal button installed that I press when I drive. MAKE IT A NON EVENT AND DRIVE CAREFULLY! :)

[@johnmckay1961]

Nice interview!

[@damienfenton3880]

Great job Ash. No better person for the interview!

[@SiWeeMann]

Just to add to your comment about the photo on the licence being old, when we applied for my son's provisional we sent off a new photo, but the DVLA used the one from his passport, taken when he was 12. A similar thing happened with my ADI badge when I renewed it. It seems the DVLA and DVSA are taking the easy route when producing licences rather than ensuring up to date photos are used.

[@RB-H]

There's a lot of pressure to pass first time now. A friend of mine booked his test in Oct 2022 for Feb 2023. It was cancelled and moved to May 2023, he didn't pass and his next test is Oct 2023...

[@paultaylor7082]

Nice appearance on TV, Ashley. Unlike most politicians who appear on TV, you made sensible observations and were coherent. Don't give up the day job, though...

[@AndyWoodger]

@ashleyneal Hollywood next making a film about a driving instructor going undercover!! Well represented Mr Neal.

[@Rockhopper1]

Peterborough Leicester Birmingham Luton and South London all seem to have a ton of Driver fraud committed, there is also a large community of drivers in these cities that don't have a licence and are driving, it needs addressing.

[@susanwestern6434]

I wonder who that community could be in those cities?

[@dopiaza2006]

Add Bradford to that. One licence per family at most.

[@chachar7458]

​@susanwestern6434 No you don't.

[@Daniel-ug3ie]

Great video! I have the same photo on my license that I had from my provisional - think I was 16/17, is that an issue? Should I get it renewed? My license expires in a few years.

[@ashley_neal]

You'll be fine until renewal 👍

[@Haggisking]

Regarding the out of date photos on driving licences, it's even worse than you mentioned. I've just renewed my photocard, and because I have a valid passport, I was able to use the photo from that. The problem is, my passport was issued in 2014. By the time my licence needs renewing again, the photo on there will be around 18 years old!!

[@jazzydave8453]

Good to see you finally got yourself on TV

[@dereksmith6126]

Famous at last Ashley!! Kudos mate.

[@mihohobaba]

Back in the day before there was photo ID on licences, it was even easier. A mate of mine offered me 200 quid to take his test for him. I turned the offer down, so he took the test himself and passed with flying colours.

[@Pattoe]

Fantastic work, Ashley. You made some great points and presented brilliantly. Your knowledge was fantastic and you clearly prepared well. Your KZbin channel is amazing and I'm not a big fan of Mainstream media, but some of the messages you teach here on KZbin really need to be reach a much wider audience. If this gets you one step closer to making "Make it a non-issue" a national culture, it's good by me. . The only constructive feedback is to try and "umm" and "err" less... but for someone who isn't used to being in more formal interviews, you didn't do it as much as most people do. I'm just being nit picky about it. I used to have a supervisor that would count every single "umm" or "err" I would do whilst speaking publicly, and then tell me after. They seemed very happy when the number was 0, but it took a lot of presentations to get there.

[@PKk-hg2ez]

I passes my ADI part 1 back in march. I've applied for a date for my ADI part 2 and heard nothing as of yet. So it's not only students who are struggling. I'm under a 2 year time limit to get part 2 AND part 3 done.... I'm increasingly believing that I may never become a driving instructor.

[@markellott5620]

I was a driving instructor in the late eighties/early nineties and these things were issues back then. Especially the people who wanted to take the test too early. I refused to take a few for precisely that reason. These days, I teach motorcycles. It works a little differently as the instructor taking someone to test isn't necessarily the same one who taught them, as we have to be licenced though a school, not as individuals. It is the school that then faces reputational damage if people are consistently not ready.

[@loopwithers]

With the UK driving license also acting as a central form of ID, Ashley's job gets made even tougher

[@flammenjc]

uhm... why?

[@loopwithers]

@@flammenjc because to prove your identity you need photo ID. So lots of people want to get driving licenses just to have proof of their identification. That means more pressure for driving instructors and examiners

[@DaveSpecC]

​@@loopwitherssorry but there's alot of other photo IDs including a provisional. Nobody is getting licensed just to have a photo ID

[@lee-r56]

@@loopwithersGetting provisionals, yes; full driving licenses, no. Why spend £1000+ passing your test when you can get a passport for a tenth of that?

[@loopwithers]

@@DaveSpecC Sorry, I never meant that people were getting driving tests JUST to get a full license. I meant it makes some people more determined to pass. Passport + Full Driving License means that you can travel the world, rent cars, open bank accounts and rent or buy property. Provisional License doesn't get you that same freedom. Many contracts demand a full license if you are an overseas visitor.

[@paultaylor7082]

I had two great driving instructors, my official one (Jack) and my dad, who was one of the safest drivers there was, he drove for a living. After around a dozen lessons and three months, aged 18, I just failed first time (I blamed to not too good gearbox on the instructor's car), but 5 weeks later, after the gearbox had been repaired, I passed. In other countries, they sometimes take fingerprints, possibly biometric driving licences might be the answer.

[@keith6400]

We do have photo licences these days whereas the green licences had only a signature to confirm identity. i also remember a case a few years back where one guy had taken a couple of hundred tests as an imposter. The authorities did notice that the same credit card had bee used on each occasion which aroused suspicion.

[@Momofan69]

It's worrying but there does seem to be methods in place when it comes to photo ID, despite what people think (due to confirmation bias usually) Britain is a great place to drive, some of the lowest accident rates in the world and I hope that doesn't change.

[@JasonUmbrellabird]

I'm pretty sure there's a large demographic where I live in S London that don't have insurance or a proper license. There is very little the police will do about it.

[@nrtvegas4515]

Well done you've made it

[@micheals1992]

I've still got the picture on my driving license from when I was 17 and I'm 31 now! XD

[@tonyBobb5209]

Great stuff Ashleh, you composed yourself well and answered the questions professionally 👏🏼 I would like to ask for you advice that no doubt many others are facing this same predicament when I say this; my brother in-law has been offered employment on the basis he gains his driving licence. He is currently unemployed but has a fantastic opportunity to join a company within the telecommunications industry. He carried out his theory exam and passed yet due to covid and the demand it has now expired and he's now booked in to do this theory again. Is there any direction you can offer for him to achieve his driving lessons/exam in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire area to enable him to secure this employment opportunity? Thanks in advance. Tony

[@owen9461]

Hi Tony, I hope you're well. I know I am not Ash but I thought I'd offer my two cents. I can't offer advice on lessons, but for actually locking in a practical test, I personally used a driving cancellation app to book particular dates at the test center I wanted automatically, which allowed me to pass my own test under similar circumstances where I really had to or would not be able to for quite some time. I did go for one test, which I narrowly failed, however I personally found I needed that to happen to chill out about it and smashed my second test a month later with a cancellation. This happened about a year ago when things were even more backed up, so I would think it still might be a useful shout. Definitely I would advise him to go for a test when he is ready and he has an instructor who will agree and who he trusts. He may have some issues with instructor availability, so others may have to offer guidance there for Peterborough. I personally passed purely through lessons as I had no one to take me out, I am sure that availability would be less of an issue if he could take regular lessons and supplement those with private practice derived from what he does on his lessons (avoids bad practice & habits). I hope he is successful - take a look at cancellation apps for test dates, or he will be waiting months and months,

[@JasonUmbrellabird]

I can't even get learner driver insurance for my 21 year old daughter because we're in the wrong post code.

[@Max-lf3tx]

You looked very natural sat up there.

[@eddiehenrik4869]

As an ex driving instructor. When people phone asking for lessons. Invariably, they want as few lessons as they can get away with and as cheap as possible.

[@KarimKarim-od9tw]

You are amazing ❤

[@r1273m]

The Driving test examiner may be pushed for time at the beginning of a test to check identification. However, I see no reason why a test centre administrator cannot be given this role and enable a very thorough check that the person really is who he/she says they are.

[@TheSGRob]

becuase that would still take the examiner's time. The examiner can hardly take the candidate out on test until the administrator has checked all candidates are who they say they are. Sometimes there are as many as 9 tests going out at once. The examiners check the provisional licence, compare it to the candidate and then if they're happy they begin. As Ash said in this interview, what else could they do?

[@AlexSwanson-rw7cv]

That's a good idea but you'd also have to control the candidates to ensure they didn't swap out after ID check and I think most test centres don't have the space for that.

[@Jay-ty6uj]

I worked hard to pass and pay for my test a lot like others -and I would really hate to get in an incident with a driver who ain’t registered

[@Jinn174]

I passed my test in 2000, I failed 3 times, passed on the 4th attempt and I think it made me a better driver, I have been driving for 23 years now, never had an accident, I have had near misses usually caused by the other driver, but I always remember my mistakes and I think that makes me a better driver, my first year or 2 of driving the near misses were mostly my fault but you learn from them

[@JasonUmbrellabird]

My driving instructor told me people were getting their mates to pass the test for them over 20 years ago.

[@JonTheComputerDoctor]

Big question is how do we get your autograph. On a seriuos note you made some very good points.

[@TheVicar]

A very professional performance Ashley. The proof is that you didn't even need a glass of water or a brew on the table, as most peoples' throats would dry up with the anxiety of going on TV, for the first time?

[@nazirkhalifa5377]

Over the years test have become unbelievably tough. When I past you took your test a couple of questions, you past or you failed. You only really learn once your on the road, on your own. There is absolutely no need for the test to be so stringent. It's like everything else, over the top legislation, and then the fraudsters move in. The greatest criminals are the people who have made this once pleasurable experience of learning to drive, into a complete nightmare, and the crazy thing is they are the same people who past there test like I did. I had 25 lessons at £6.80 , applied for my test, paid £35.00 for my test, past 1st time. Trouble free motoring for the last 30 years.

[@ultravenomm]

finally a good answer that isnt written by the woke agenda, good lad.

[@Liam_Oliver]

I'm sorry, but the more stringent the better if you ask me. And a foreign licence should only be valid for 2 months, upon which they should introduce a migrants provisional licence which expires after 18 months (drivers would still be able to drive alone, but there'd be a cut off by which time they *should* have been able to pass a UK driving test). I very much appreciate that a lot of learning is done once you actually pass, but the amount of people I know who hold a UK drivers licence but can't actually bloody drive is ridiculous. I also believe older people should be retested every 5 years from aged 65, and 'professional' drivers should be retested every 5 years. You may very well be a good and competent driver, but driving is a privilege, and there are far too many that abuse that privilege.

[@SN-nh4ge]

I've got to disagree, yes the prices are very unfair to learners but the test has to be stingy to get good drivers on the road with others. The purpose of the test is to determine whether you can safely join the other road users, yes the learner will keep learning once they've passed their test but they have to reach a certain standard before being allowed on the road which is the purpose of the test.

[@robertoulton7357]

Well done Ash

[@polluxtroy69]

I've just renewed my driving licence because it went out of date (10 years old). I applied for my new licence online and it has the exact same picture.

[@georgedavis-stewart4225]

A star is born.

[@KarthikS30712]

The driving licence is also one ID which can be used for rent, phone plans, School admissions, etc.

[@Leidolfr]

That doesn't matter, as provisional licenses can be used.