No show learner drivers add to City’s service delivery backlog

By Ofentse Mokae
01 October 2009

More than 1500 learner drivers fail to keep their test appointments each month and this is contributing significantly to the appointment backlog at the City of Cape Town’s Traffic Services Department.

“If learner drivers are frustrated by the length of time they have to wait before being tested, they need look no further than the failure of their fellow learner drivers to honour appointments for the answer,” says Chief Inspector Merle Lourens, media spokesperson for Cape Town Traffic Services.

"The City has 17 Driving License Testing Centers and the statistics from June to August show a shocking level of irresponsibility. In June, 7250 bookings were made for driving license tests and 1584 applicants failed to keep their appointments," said Lourens.

In July, 6294 appointments were made and 1684 learners did not pitch and of the 7019 bookings for August, 1840 applicants also did not turn up. People who do not keep driving license test appointments clog the system and contribute significantly to the long waiting period.

Lourens says the traffic department appeals to all applicants to honour appointments made and to inform them well in advance of any cancellation.

She said this would prevent the appointment backlog in the city.