World News – CA – Ontario is facing significant backlog in driving trials as restricted areas cancel road tests

Ontario has a significant backlog of driving tests in regions with some of the highest COVID-19 rates after pandemic restrictions forced the lifting of road tests.

Since the end of November, around 18. 000 road tests canceled, the Ministry of Transport announced this week. These areas include Toronto and the neighboring Peel region.

« DriveTest has a significant backlog and we continue to ask for the public’s patience as we work on it, » said ministry spokesman Michael Fenn.

In addition, residents from restricted areas were prohibited from booking a road test in an area with fewer pandemic restrictions.

DriveTest centers in restricted areas will continue to be open for services such as knowledge tests, with capacity restrictions.

Elizabeth Deshko, a student at Ryerson University in Toronto, said she had tried to book a road test since September and couldn’t get a seat.

The Department of Transportation said the province plans to hire more than 130 temporary driver examiners to help address the backlog.

This is to “make more road tests available and reduce waiting times to ensure that people who need a road test can get one as soon as possible. ”

Meanwhile, the ministry said there have been cases of third-party websites and individuals offering road test appointments for a premium.

Similar to Scalper for concert tickets, these people book several appointment slots and sell them on at a profit, it said.

« The DriveTest booking system is the only official channel that books a road test. We encourage Ontarians to use this channel to book their tests, « said the ministry.

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Ontario, Driving Test, Closure