In Andalusia, more than 82,000 people are waiting to take the practical driving test. This situation delays obtaining a license and hits those who need a car to work or study. The lack of examiners is the main cause of the backlog, which translates into more time and money spent on extra classes and paperwork. The delay complicates daily mobility and job placement for many citizens, who see their independence at a standstill.
Technology to unclog: simulators and digital appointment management 🚦
Some driving schools have started using driving simulators to reduce hours of real practice and prepare students before the exam. These systems, with sensors and virtual environments, allow training maneuvers without using a car or an instructor. In parallel, the DGT is exploring digital management systems to assign appointments more efficiently, although bureaucracy and lack of staff slow down implementation. The technical solution exists, but without examiners, the bottleneck persists.
The waiting list: the new patience points license ⏳
While the 82,000 applicants wait their turn, Andalusian driving schools have become waiting rooms with steering wheels. Some students already know the exam by heart, but the test date moves like the horizon: always a little further away. By the time the day arrives, many will have accumulated so many extra classes that they could give lessons to their own examiners. Of course, patience is trained for free, although it is not validated at the driving school.