Publication of ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2022-23 Quarter One’

The ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2022-23 Quarter One’ report, detailing statistics for April to June 2022, is now available.

The report is produced and published by NISRA Statisticians working within the DVA. It contains summary statistical, performance, and trend information relating to the main business functions of the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), and other vehicle licensing activity. 

The publication is available on the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) website at:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency Activity Statistics

KEY POINTS

The key points in the report are:

During quarter one of 2022/23, the DVA delivered 282,200 vehicle tests (full tests and retests). This is almost 2% (4,823) higher than the previous quarter (277,377) and just over 61% (107,272) above the number of vehicle tests delivered in the same quarter in 2021/22 (174,928).

The number of full vehicle tests delivered in quarter one was 240,188, which is almost 71% (99,563) above the number of full tests conducted in the first quarter of 2021/22 (140,625).

Just over 11,210 vehicles failed to attend for a booked vehicle test during quarter one. This equates to 4% of all conducted tests during this period.

From April to June 2022/23 the DVA delivered 23,053 theory tests, the highest quarterly volume in our series going back to 20012/13.

In quarter one of 2022/23, the DVA conducted 18,059 driving tests, the highest number of practical driving tests conducted in a single quarter since 2009/10, and 34% (4,610) above the equivalent quarter in 2021/22.

Driver licensing online performance in the first two quarters of 2022/23, from April to June, and July to September, remained above the target level of 95%, at 99.7% and 99.2% respectively.

Progress made during the last quarter of 2021/22 in processing driver licensing paper applications has continued into the first two quarters of 2022/23, with performance above the target level of 90% for both quarters, at 94.3% and 96.0% respectively.

In the first quarter of 2022/23, the DVA were active across the full range of enforcement activities, with 544 vehicles checked, 37 fixed penalty notices issued totaling £6,730, two joint operations with PSNI, seven cross border operations with An Garda Síochána, and seven spot checks on school buses carried out. There were 38 successful convictions this quarter.

The proportion of newly registered alternative-fuel cars has increased substantially over the last two years, from 15.3% in quarter one of 2020/21 to its current high of 35.0% in the equivalent quarter in 2022/23.  Over this same period, the proportion of new diesel cars has continued to decline, from 27.5% to 13.9%. This is the seventh quarter in a row that alternative-fuel cars have out-sold diesel cars. However, the latest quarterly figures suggest that the uptake in alternate fuel new cars may be slowing down.

Notes to editors: 

Background to Driver & Vehicle Agency ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics’

1. This is the thirty-first edition of the quarterly report ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics’, relating to April to June 2022. 
2. The release covers nine main DVA business areas: vehicle testing, theory testing, driver testing, driver licensing, road transport and taxi licensing, enforcement and goods operator licensing from within the DfI.  Also included in the quarterly report are monitoring results for the first two quarters of 2022/23 for two key DVA driver licensing performance targets. Quarter two results relating to July to September have been published as they were available to be released.
3. Vehicle licensing statistics are included in the report; however, they are no longer a DVA business area: responsibility for vehicle licensing transferred to DVLA in July 2014 and DfT now publish these statistics on a UK-wide basis. 
4. We derive the majority of statistics from administrative data sources held within the DVA and the DfI’s Transport Regulation Unit. 
5. The report is written, and issued by NISRA statisticians in the DVA. 
6. ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics’ is published every quarter at pre-announced release dates, which are available from the GOV.UK website.
7. Electronic copies of the ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2022-23 Quarter One’ can be downloaded from our website at: Driver & Vehicle Agency Activity Statistics
8. A detailed User Guidance document is also available on our website.
9. This is a National Statistics report and therefore follows the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.  You can find further information about the Code on the Statistics Authority’s website
10. For further information, please contact:

• Tel (public enquiries):  02890 547911 (Text relay prefix 18001)
• E-mail: DVA.Statistics@nisra.gov.uk
• Website: Driver and Vehicle Agency Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics

11. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
12. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure.

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