By The Acclaim Team on 16th October 2020 in News
New restrictions announced in Northern Ireland in a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19. Driving Instructors must stop delivering Lessons and Driving Tests cancelled.
The NI Executive has clarified that driving instructors are to be included on the list of close contact services and therefore our instructors must stop teaching for the next 4 weeks in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
All driving lessons from 6pm on Friday 16th October will be cancelled. We hope to resume Driving Lessons on Saturday 14th November. This impacts Learners and Instructors in Northern Ireland only
The DVA has confirmed that driving tests will also not take place over this period of increased restrictions. This decision has been taken in order to protect the health and safety of customers and staff and is in line with scientific and medical advice.
This means that all practical driving tests scheduled to take place between 17 October and 13 November 2020 inclusive will not now take place.
Customers with driving tests booked to take place during this period need take NO action.
The DVA will issue refunds back to the payment card as quickly as possible and will contact customers directly to advise them how they can reschedule their appointments.
To create additional capacity, the DVA is planning to open up the booking system for February for these impacted customers only.
Further appointments will be made available in November, December and January as DVA works to increase capacity by recruiting additional examiners.
These slots, when they are released, will also only be available to these impacted customers. We are also conscious that some key workers may be within this group and we will be setting up a process to give them priority appointments and we will contact these customers directly.
The Driving Test booking service is now closed and no further driving tests can be booked either online or via the telephone booking line, until further notice.
Our Belfast office will remain open throughout this period (09:00 - 17:30 Monday - Friday) and we will be happy to help you re-book and re-schedule your driving lessons for when the lockdown ends.
Please call us on 02890 694455.
Thank you for your patience during this period.
