Recent Public Posts - [guest]
| Hampshire County Council plans charges for roadwork lane closures In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371289/31487/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:36, 21st January 2026 |      |
From the BBC:
Charges planned to curb peak-time roadworks
A proposal to charge utility companies up to £2,500 a day for carrying out roadworks has been submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT).
Hampshire County Council says the lane rental scheme, if approved, could generate around £1.6m annually to be reinvested in maintaining the county's road network, including pothole repairs.
The council wants to implement a daily charge of £2,500 for a full road closure and £1,500 for lane closures or the use of temporary traffic lights.
The plan was signed off by the local authority on 19 January and if the DfT gives the scheme the go-ahead, it could be introduced later this year.
Under national rules, councils can apply lane rental charges only during the busiest traffic periods, with exemptions at other times.
Based on data from recent works, officials estimate the scheme could bring in around £2.8m in gross income each year. Of that, roughly £1.2m would cover administrative costs, leaving £1.6m for road maintenance.
The council said the primary aim was not to raise revenue but to encourage faster completion of works and to deter companies from scheduling disruptive activity at peak times.
Approving the plans, Councillor Lulu Bowerman, the cabinet member for highways and public transport, said she was "really pleased to see it coming forward", adding that residents regularly experienced congestion caused by roadworks. "This is about encouraging behavioural change," she said. "The sooner we can bring this in, the better."
Tim Lawton, the council's assistant director, told a committee meeting that officers had "high confidence" the proposal met all national requirements.
During the decision session, Councillor Kirsty North noted that the maximum charges allowed by government had not changed since the scheme became possible in 2012. She said it would be "fair" to highlight that the council was limited by outdated legislation, adding she hoped the DfT would approve the scheme so the county could "reduce congestion and repair potholes".
An application to run a similar scheme was made by Southampton City Council in 2025.
A proposal to charge utility companies up to £2,500 a day for carrying out roadworks has been submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT).
Hampshire County Council says the lane rental scheme, if approved, could generate around £1.6m annually to be reinvested in maintaining the county's road network, including pothole repairs.
The council wants to implement a daily charge of £2,500 for a full road closure and £1,500 for lane closures or the use of temporary traffic lights.
The plan was signed off by the local authority on 19 January and if the DfT gives the scheme the go-ahead, it could be introduced later this year.
Under national rules, councils can apply lane rental charges only during the busiest traffic periods, with exemptions at other times.
Based on data from recent works, officials estimate the scheme could bring in around £2.8m in gross income each year. Of that, roughly £1.2m would cover administrative costs, leaving £1.6m for road maintenance.
The council said the primary aim was not to raise revenue but to encourage faster completion of works and to deter companies from scheduling disruptive activity at peak times.
Approving the plans, Councillor Lulu Bowerman, the cabinet member for highways and public transport, said she was "really pleased to see it coming forward", adding that residents regularly experienced congestion caused by roadworks. "This is about encouraging behavioural change," she said. "The sooner we can bring this in, the better."
Tim Lawton, the council's assistant director, told a committee meeting that officers had "high confidence" the proposal met all national requirements.
During the decision session, Councillor Kirsty North noted that the maximum charges allowed by government had not changed since the scheme became possible in 2012. She said it would be "fair" to highlight that the council was limited by outdated legislation, adding she hoped the DfT would approve the scheme so the county could "reduce congestion and repair potholes".
An application to run a similar scheme was made by Southampton City Council in 2025.
| Re: Engineering overrun - to Gatwick, 19th January 2026 In "North Downs Line" [371288/31476/16] Posted by Surrey 455 at 19:48, 21st January 2026 | |
Again - perhaps GBR will bring the automatic ability to use the next train in the event of disruption - however it's painted (though I understand that there's a lot of swapping of 387 units been going on, and the paint job does not confirm who's running it these days!
Indeed, yesterday I saw two trains joined together at Clapham Junction. The side displays were showing Gatwick Express to Victoria. The front train appeared to be black but I eventually realised it was dark GWR green. The rear train seemed to be white with blue doors. Previously Great Northern maybe?
| Re: Twyford parking rules could change as Elizabeth Line route opens In "London to Reading" [371287/26895/7] Posted by John D at 19:30, 21st January 2026 | |
Twyford has 1,754,790 journeys in latest annual station figures, virtually double the figure 25-30 years ago
Using Mr Jupps dataset it is highest year of the 25-30 years
If the park car is full by 7am (as BBC reports) then clearly isn't big enough, no debate. If there is a debatable item it is why expansion wasn't started months (or couple of years) ago.
Yes people are going back to office (it was well known 6+ months ago that many companies demanded it no later than start of 2026), so is not a surprise. After all staff continuity, training and mentoring grinds to a halt when staff can't learn from their colleagues.
This seems like classic case of someone taking their eye off the ball (for months) and not reacting earlier to spot the impending problem.
| Re: New Forest trainline closed for emergency repairs after landslip In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371285/31464/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:23, 21st January 2026 | |
Noting that the BBC have now reverted to the rather more common usage of the terminology 'branch line' ... [Image from here is not available to guests]
From the BBC:
Brockenhurst - Lymington branch line service to resume after track repairs
[Image from here is not available to guests]
A full service is expected to resume on a branch line after a small landslip.
The track between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier in Hampshire was closed from Friday to Sunday after heavy rain. The line then reopened with one train per hour - rather than two - in each direction and a reduced speed limit.
Network Rail said it hoped to restore a full service on Thursday, although it said further work would be carried out on the weekend of 21/22 February. The recent three-day closure was caused by heavy rain that shifted an embankment near Battramsley. Engineers found a further track defect nearby, which is due to be repaired on Wednesday night, the track operator added.
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Previously, South Western Railway said a reduced service was expected until 23 February due to the complexity of the work. However, some of the repairs were brought forward due to the damage from Storm Goretti, according to Network Rail. The ground beneath the track was rebuilt and sheet piles were driven in to hold the embankment in place.
Infrastructure director Tom McNamee from Network Rail said: "I would like to thank our passengers for bearing with us. The recent wet weather and Storm Goretti left us with no choice but to get our teams to come in and carry out these vital repairs."
[Image from here is not available to guests]
A full service is expected to resume on a branch line after a small landslip.
The track between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier in Hampshire was closed from Friday to Sunday after heavy rain. The line then reopened with one train per hour - rather than two - in each direction and a reduced speed limit.
Network Rail said it hoped to restore a full service on Thursday, although it said further work would be carried out on the weekend of 21/22 February. The recent three-day closure was caused by heavy rain that shifted an embankment near Battramsley. Engineers found a further track defect nearby, which is due to be repaired on Wednesday night, the track operator added.
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Previously, South Western Railway said a reduced service was expected until 23 February due to the complexity of the work. However, some of the repairs were brought forward due to the damage from Storm Goretti, according to Network Rail. The ground beneath the track was rebuilt and sheet piles were driven in to hold the embankment in place.
Infrastructure director Tom McNamee from Network Rail said: "I would like to thank our passengers for bearing with us. The recent wet weather and Storm Goretti left us with no choice but to get our teams to come in and carry out these vital repairs."
| Re: Twyford parking rules could change as Elizabeth Line route opens In "London to Reading" [371284/26895/7] Posted by John D at 19:17, 21st January 2026 | |
Twyford has 1,754,790 journeys in latest annual station figures, virtually double the figure 25-30 years ago
Using Mr Jupps dataset it is highest year of the 25-30 years
If the park car is full by 7am (as BBC reports) then clearly isn't big enough, no debate. If there is a debatable item it is why expansion wasn't started months (or couple of years) ago.
Yes people are going back to office (it was well known 6+ months ago that many companies demanded it no later than start of 2026), so is not a surprise. After all staff continuity, training and mentoring grinds to a halt when staff can't learn from their colleagues.
This seems like classic case of someone taking their eye off the ball (for months) and not reacting earlier to spot the impending problem.
| Re: Preventing suicide on the railways In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371282/6100/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:00, 21st January 2026 | |
This update is not specific to the railways, but it does reference the Samaritans and other organisations who are available to provide support to those who need it.
From the BBC, with the linked heading 'Northern Ireland woman bereaved by suicide calls for greater funding to prevent deaths':
'I don't want anyone else to die by suicide'
[Image from here is not available to guests]
"I'm just this wee girl who wants to make a difference, who wants to help people, who doesn't want anyone else to die by suicide," says Claire Curran
A woman who has lost several members of her family to suicide has said more funding is needed for suicide prevention.
Claire Curran now uses her loss to help other families bereaved through suicide.
It comes as it was announced a new cross-party inquiry will examine how suicide prevention services are funded in Northern Ireland and how best to tackle the rising numbers.
New figures confirm that 290 deaths by suicide were registered in Northern Ireland in 2024.
The inquiry was launched by the All-Party Group (APG) on Suicide Prevention on Tuesday.
MLAs, community groups and charity leaders gathered at Stormont for the launch. Many of the intendees like Curran, had firsthand experience of losing a loved one to suicide.
She works with the Families' Voices Forum and Samaritans and believes such community groups could face closure unless more funding is allocated. "It's really difficult for services, community and voluntary, who don't have sustainable funding, so they don't know that they're going to be there," she said. "They're taking clients, they're working with them, they're helping and supporting them, but they don't know whether they're going to be there if they need more. They don't know what's going to happen next year."
"Services are closing, and when services close, they don't reopen. Our health service, our mental health service, has waiting lists. They are struggling to cope," she added. "If we lose our community and voluntary sector, what happens to all of those people who are struggling, who need help and support? We have to be able to provide that for them."
Curran is hopeful that the inquiry will ensure that funding is made available to keep suicide prevention services open. "I'm no one special. I'm just this wee girl who wants to make a difference, who wants to help people, who doesn't want anyone else to die by suicide. I know that we can't stop everyone, but we can greatly reduce the numbers," she said. "Everyone needs to get behind this because suicide is everybody's business. We all have a role to play, so actually let's step up and do that. Let's make sure that those who are making the decisions step up to do that too."
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Sarah O'Toole of Samaritans Ireland said: "What we would really like to see is suicide prevention policies that exists across departments"
The Samaritans say those phoning their helpline call for many different reasons - reasons that do not sit in the health portfolio. Callers have reached a crisis point because of problems with housing, the criminal justice system or social services.
Sarah O'Toole of Samaritans Ireland believes a joined-up and cross-departmental approach by Stormont could be the answer. "The large proportion of funding around suicide prevention does go into the health budget, but unfortunately some of the actions around the mental health strategy have been paused or stopped due to financial constraints," she said. "What we would really like to see is suicide prevention policies that exists across departments, working together, but within those policies you have plans that are fundable and are actioned as well."
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Órlaithí Flynn MLA said politicians must come together to support community groups
APG chair Órlaithí Flynn MLA has praised the work of community groups, but said politicians need to come together to support them. She said there is "so many wonderful suicide prevention groups that are constantly doing life-saving work out in our local communities". She added that "many of them aren't in receipt of any core funding from the Department of Health because that pot of money is very, very small and many of them are surviving on local fundraising initiatives".
"What we hope is to highlight the importance - the life-saving importance - of these groups and the work that they're doing and potentially to look at any cross-departmental options that are available."
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA, who officially launched the inquiry, said suicide prevention could not be delivered by one department alone. "The factors that place people at risk span health, housing, education, justice, community safety and economic pressures," he said. "I welcome this inquiry and the opportunity it creates to strengthen how government works together to support prevention, early intervention and community resilience."
Latest figures from statistics agency Nisra show that 290 suicides were registered in Northern Ireland in 2024. The average number of registered suicides for each year between 2014 and 2017 was 205. That number jumped to an average of 238 each year between 2021 and 2024.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death in men under 50. In 2024, almost eight in 10 of the suicide deaths registered were men.
For support and more information on emotional distress, help is available on the BBC Action Line.
[Image from here is not available to guests]
"I'm just this wee girl who wants to make a difference, who wants to help people, who doesn't want anyone else to die by suicide," says Claire Curran
A woman who has lost several members of her family to suicide has said more funding is needed for suicide prevention.
Claire Curran now uses her loss to help other families bereaved through suicide.
It comes as it was announced a new cross-party inquiry will examine how suicide prevention services are funded in Northern Ireland and how best to tackle the rising numbers.
New figures confirm that 290 deaths by suicide were registered in Northern Ireland in 2024.
The inquiry was launched by the All-Party Group (APG) on Suicide Prevention on Tuesday.
MLAs, community groups and charity leaders gathered at Stormont for the launch. Many of the intendees like Curran, had firsthand experience of losing a loved one to suicide.
She works with the Families' Voices Forum and Samaritans and believes such community groups could face closure unless more funding is allocated. "It's really difficult for services, community and voluntary, who don't have sustainable funding, so they don't know that they're going to be there," she said. "They're taking clients, they're working with them, they're helping and supporting them, but they don't know whether they're going to be there if they need more. They don't know what's going to happen next year."
"Services are closing, and when services close, they don't reopen. Our health service, our mental health service, has waiting lists. They are struggling to cope," she added. "If we lose our community and voluntary sector, what happens to all of those people who are struggling, who need help and support? We have to be able to provide that for them."
Curran is hopeful that the inquiry will ensure that funding is made available to keep suicide prevention services open. "I'm no one special. I'm just this wee girl who wants to make a difference, who wants to help people, who doesn't want anyone else to die by suicide. I know that we can't stop everyone, but we can greatly reduce the numbers," she said. "Everyone needs to get behind this because suicide is everybody's business. We all have a role to play, so actually let's step up and do that. Let's make sure that those who are making the decisions step up to do that too."
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Sarah O'Toole of Samaritans Ireland said: "What we would really like to see is suicide prevention policies that exists across departments"
The Samaritans say those phoning their helpline call for many different reasons - reasons that do not sit in the health portfolio. Callers have reached a crisis point because of problems with housing, the criminal justice system or social services.
Sarah O'Toole of Samaritans Ireland believes a joined-up and cross-departmental approach by Stormont could be the answer. "The large proportion of funding around suicide prevention does go into the health budget, but unfortunately some of the actions around the mental health strategy have been paused or stopped due to financial constraints," she said. "What we would really like to see is suicide prevention policies that exists across departments, working together, but within those policies you have plans that are fundable and are actioned as well."
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Órlaithí Flynn MLA said politicians must come together to support community groups
APG chair Órlaithí Flynn MLA has praised the work of community groups, but said politicians need to come together to support them. She said there is "so many wonderful suicide prevention groups that are constantly doing life-saving work out in our local communities". She added that "many of them aren't in receipt of any core funding from the Department of Health because that pot of money is very, very small and many of them are surviving on local fundraising initiatives".
"What we hope is to highlight the importance - the life-saving importance - of these groups and the work that they're doing and potentially to look at any cross-departmental options that are available."
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA, who officially launched the inquiry, said suicide prevention could not be delivered by one department alone. "The factors that place people at risk span health, housing, education, justice, community safety and economic pressures," he said. "I welcome this inquiry and the opportunity it creates to strengthen how government works together to support prevention, early intervention and community resilience."
Latest figures from statistics agency Nisra show that 290 suicides were registered in Northern Ireland in 2024. The average number of registered suicides for each year between 2014 and 2017 was 205. That number jumped to an average of 238 each year between 2021 and 2024.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death in men under 50. In 2024, almost eight in 10 of the suicide deaths registered were men.
For support and more information on emotional distress, help is available on the BBC Action Line.
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371281/231/28] Posted by johnneyw at 18:26, 21st January 2026 Already liked by Red Squirrel, Oxonhutch | |
Worth pointing out that the last couple of hundred metres of Sheepway as you approach old Portbury Station from Portishead are really nasty to walk along, with some blind bends and fairly fast traffic. Most motorists I met were very courteous, but one of two were on me before either party had much chance to react.
Worth pointing out indeed and I'll definitely take that into account in my planning....a train would be a preferable future transport option to an ambulance.
| Re: Weather updates from across the UK, with implications for infrastructure - ongoing discussion, 2 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371280/30953/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:11, 21st January 2026 | |
An update, from the BBC:
One of two missing Christmas Day swimmers found
The body of a 47-year-old man has been recovered after two swimmers went missing on Christmas Day, police have said.
Officers said they found the man at Sandy Bay near Exmouth on Tuesday after two swimmers went missing in stormy seas at Budleigh Salterton, Devon, on 25 December.
Formal identification is yet to be carried out, but officers said they believe the person to be a 47-year-old man. His next-of-kin have been informed. One of the swimmers was named as 64-year-old local antiques dealer Matthew Upham.
Supt Ryan Doyle, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said the discovery was "very sad news". He added: "We have spoken with his family and we are continuing to support them through this difficult time. Understandably they have asked for their privacy to be respected. The family of the second missing man has also been informed and are being supported."
(BBC article continues)
The body of a 47-year-old man has been recovered after two swimmers went missing on Christmas Day, police have said.
Officers said they found the man at Sandy Bay near Exmouth on Tuesday after two swimmers went missing in stormy seas at Budleigh Salterton, Devon, on 25 December.
Formal identification is yet to be carried out, but officers said they believe the person to be a 47-year-old man. His next-of-kin have been informed. One of the swimmers was named as 64-year-old local antiques dealer Matthew Upham.
Supt Ryan Doyle, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said the discovery was "very sad news". He added: "We have spoken with his family and we are continuing to support them through this difficult time. Understandably they have asked for their privacy to be respected. The family of the second missing man has also been informed and are being supported."
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371279/231/28] Posted by Red Squirrel at 16:19, 21st January 2026 | |
Worth pointing out that the last couple of hundred metres of Sheepway as you approach old Portbury Station from Portishead are really nasty to walk along, with some blind bends and fairly fast traffic. Most motorists I met were very courteous, but one of two were on me before either party had much chance to react.
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371278/231/28] Posted by johnneyw at 16:13, 21st January 2026 | |
Yes, the X4. Quite frequent, and usually a Yutong electric jobby!
Corking stuff, I'm fully intending to make use of that service to go and have the occasional nose around there too. Reminds me a bit of my visits to the Filton Bank during the redoubling.
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371276/231/28] Posted by Red Squirrel at 15:13, 21st January 2026 Already liked by Mark A, TonyK | |
Yes, the X4. Quite frequent, and usually a Yutong electric jobby!
| Re: Driving licences and tests - ongoing discussion In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371275/19893/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:00, 21st January 2026 | |
Again, from the BBC, and related to my previous post:
Basingstoke MP calls for urgent review after man refused driving test
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Yin Cheong William Shen was told he did not match the photo on his provisional driving licence
An MP has written to the Transport Secretary and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) after a learner driver was turned away on the day of his test because the examiner said his face did not match the photo on his provisional licence.
Yin Cheong William Shen, who was born in Hong Kong, waited eight months for a driving test near his home in Basingstoke, Hampshire, before being prevented from taking it. The agency has upheld the decision and refused to give a refund.
The Labour MP for Basingstoke, Luke Murphy, called for an "urgent review", and said the incident raised concerns around potential unconscious bias.
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Shen said he had never had problems with the photo before
Shen said the examiner's refusal left him perplexed. "He said: 'Your face does not match my ID.' After that he decided that my test has been terminated and walked away."
"I feel confused. I've been using my ID with no issues before in the past, especially for my theory test. It's the same photo as my passport, which caused no issues when I travelled this year."
His instructor Stephen Lambert said the examiner's decision in November was an "insult".
"I said to the examiner: 'No, these are his eyes, his ears, his mouth. It looks like him to me.'"
In his letter to Secretary of State Heidi Alexander, Murphy said while his constituent "emphasised that he does not allege intentional discrimination", research showed facial recognition errors "can disproportionally affect individuals from certain ethnic backgrounds". He said Shen now faced a delay of about six months before the next test, "causing considerable practical and financial hardship".
The MP said the incident reflected "wider public concern about the consistency and fairness of identity checks at test centres". He also asked the DVSA to conduct a full review of the decision made on the day and its handling of the complaint, and said Shen should be offered a free rescheduled test as soon as possible.
The DVSA previously said it had investigated the incident and would not offer a refund or a free retest. In a letter to Shen, it wrote: "The law requires that a test candidate must produce suitable identification to the examiner at the start of the test. The examiner must refuse the test if they are not completely satisfied with the identification provided."
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Yin Cheong William Shen was told he did not match the photo on his provisional driving licence
An MP has written to the Transport Secretary and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) after a learner driver was turned away on the day of his test because the examiner said his face did not match the photo on his provisional licence.
Yin Cheong William Shen, who was born in Hong Kong, waited eight months for a driving test near his home in Basingstoke, Hampshire, before being prevented from taking it. The agency has upheld the decision and refused to give a refund.
The Labour MP for Basingstoke, Luke Murphy, called for an "urgent review", and said the incident raised concerns around potential unconscious bias.
[Image from here is not available to guests]
Shen said he had never had problems with the photo before
Shen said the examiner's refusal left him perplexed. "He said: 'Your face does not match my ID.' After that he decided that my test has been terminated and walked away."
"I feel confused. I've been using my ID with no issues before in the past, especially for my theory test. It's the same photo as my passport, which caused no issues when I travelled this year."
His instructor Stephen Lambert said the examiner's decision in November was an "insult".
"I said to the examiner: 'No, these are his eyes, his ears, his mouth. It looks like him to me.'"
In his letter to Secretary of State Heidi Alexander, Murphy said while his constituent "emphasised that he does not allege intentional discrimination", research showed facial recognition errors "can disproportionally affect individuals from certain ethnic backgrounds". He said Shen now faced a delay of about six months before the next test, "causing considerable practical and financial hardship".
The MP said the incident reflected "wider public concern about the consistency and fairness of identity checks at test centres". He also asked the DVSA to conduct a full review of the decision made on the day and its handling of the complaint, and said Shen should be offered a free rescheduled test as soon as possible.
The DVSA previously said it had investigated the incident and would not offer a refund or a free retest. In a letter to Shen, it wrote: "The law requires that a test candidate must produce suitable identification to the examiner at the start of the test. The examiner must refuse the test if they are not completely satisfied with the identification provided."
| Re: Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR) In "Across the West" [371274/28982/26] Posted by John D at 13:40, 21st January 2026 | |
Looks like another unit (hopefully more than one unit) is scheduled from Wolverton to Laira on Friday.
Last couple of scheduled deliveries were cancelled, so will this one actually happen
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K60250/2026-01-23/detailed
| Re: Driving licences and tests - ongoing discussion In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [371273/19893/51] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:35, 21st January 2026 | |
From the BBC:
Driving test cheating soars as candidates turn to Bluetooth headsets and impersonators
Cheating cases during practical and theory driving tests rose by nearly 50 per cent last year in England, Scotland and Wales, new figures show.
The cheating methods varied, according to freedom of information data from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), with more than 1,100 cases involving the use of Bluetooth headsets.
Overall, nearly 100 offenders were prosecuted for trying to cheat themselves or for impersonating driving test candidates.
Industry leaders blamed the increase on the nationwide shortage of tests and drivers' desperation to pass, while the DVSA blamed a general rise in cheating and improved detection.
A Press Association News Agency freedom information request revealed 2,844 attempts to cheat during driving tests in the year to September 2025, 47% higher than the previous year. Of those, more than a third (1,113) involved the use of technology, such as an earpiece connected via Bluetooth to a concealed phone, to try to cheat at a theory test.
Meanwhile people attempted 1,084 times to try to take theory tests while impersonating the registered candidate. And in 647 incidents, people pretended to be the registered candidate for a practical test.
Dr Rasha Kassem, leader of the Fraud Research Group at Aston University, warned of the dangers of people passing tests illegally without actually knowing how to drive. "It means that there will be more accidents, collisions, insurance issues as well, damage to the car, and damage to human beings, injuries, and in some cases, death," she said. "There has to be public awareness, because this is a serious crime, from my perspective, and also in the eyes of the law. It is fraud."
Impersonators, and those who use them, face punishments ranging from driving bans to prison sentences. They can also be ordered to carry out unpaid work or made to pay court costs.
Ninety-six people were prosecuted for attempting to cheat on driving tests or impersonate candidates in the 12 months to September last year.
Steps taken to try and prevent fraud including matching a practical test candidate's face with their photo ID, as well as asking theory candidates to roll up their sleeves and show their pockets are empty.
Examples of people prosecuted last year, reported by the Press Association News Agency, include 23-year-old Qounain Khan, who was handed an eight-month prison sentence in June 2025 after pleading guilty to impersonating learners at theory test centres 12 times. The court heard impersonators could be paid up to £2,000 for passing a test.
Sorina-Ana Turcitu, 42, admitted attempting to take a practical driving test on behalf of someone else. She was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment suspended for 18 months in September 2025.
And Ali Rasul, 22, was handed a two-year prison sentence in November 2025 after being caught repeatedly trying to cheat the theory test over an eight-month period either by using a hidden earpiece or an impersonator.
The rise in reported cheating comes as learner drivers face persistently long waits for practical tests slots. The DVSA said it had no evidence cheating was linked to waiting times.
However, Carly Brookfield, chief executive of the Driving Instructors Association, told the BBC she was not surprised that fraud was on the rise in this context. "It almost seems inevitable in an era of lots of demand, but very little consistent supply, that you are going to get people engaging in risky behaviours, like using a cheat service to try and pass." She said people who "don't want to risk going on the torturous merry-go-round and trying to get another slot...might take the risk, unfortunately, of cheating."
Dr Kassem also believed long wait times to book a slot was likely to be a factor, with some people resorting to fraud for reasons such as needing to get a licence quickly for a job.
In December, the National Audit Office warned that the driving test backlog would not be cleared until November 2027. Causes include poor recruitment and retention of examiners and third-party websites booking up slots using automated programs known as bots.
The Department for Transport (DfT) previously announced more action to try to get the backlog down, including employing military driving examiners and only allowing learner drivers to book and manage their practical driving tests from the coming Spring.
Marian Kitson, the DVSA's director of enforcement services, said the organisation was committed to tackling practical and theory test fraud, and had increased its detection capabilities. "It is essential that all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge, and attitude to drive safely. People who attempt to cheat driving tests put all road users at risk by trying to obtain a driving licence fraudulently," she said. "Our counter-fraud team carries out robust investigations into suspected fraud, working with the police to bring fraudsters to justice and keep Britain's roads safe."
Cheating cases during practical and theory driving tests rose by nearly 50 per cent last year in England, Scotland and Wales, new figures show.
The cheating methods varied, according to freedom of information data from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), with more than 1,100 cases involving the use of Bluetooth headsets.
Overall, nearly 100 offenders were prosecuted for trying to cheat themselves or for impersonating driving test candidates.
Industry leaders blamed the increase on the nationwide shortage of tests and drivers' desperation to pass, while the DVSA blamed a general rise in cheating and improved detection.
A Press Association News Agency freedom information request revealed 2,844 attempts to cheat during driving tests in the year to September 2025, 47% higher than the previous year. Of those, more than a third (1,113) involved the use of technology, such as an earpiece connected via Bluetooth to a concealed phone, to try to cheat at a theory test.
Meanwhile people attempted 1,084 times to try to take theory tests while impersonating the registered candidate. And in 647 incidents, people pretended to be the registered candidate for a practical test.
Dr Rasha Kassem, leader of the Fraud Research Group at Aston University, warned of the dangers of people passing tests illegally without actually knowing how to drive. "It means that there will be more accidents, collisions, insurance issues as well, damage to the car, and damage to human beings, injuries, and in some cases, death," she said. "There has to be public awareness, because this is a serious crime, from my perspective, and also in the eyes of the law. It is fraud."
Impersonators, and those who use them, face punishments ranging from driving bans to prison sentences. They can also be ordered to carry out unpaid work or made to pay court costs.
Ninety-six people were prosecuted for attempting to cheat on driving tests or impersonate candidates in the 12 months to September last year.
Steps taken to try and prevent fraud including matching a practical test candidate's face with their photo ID, as well as asking theory candidates to roll up their sleeves and show their pockets are empty.
Examples of people prosecuted last year, reported by the Press Association News Agency, include 23-year-old Qounain Khan, who was handed an eight-month prison sentence in June 2025 after pleading guilty to impersonating learners at theory test centres 12 times. The court heard impersonators could be paid up to £2,000 for passing a test.
Sorina-Ana Turcitu, 42, admitted attempting to take a practical driving test on behalf of someone else. She was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment suspended for 18 months in September 2025.
And Ali Rasul, 22, was handed a two-year prison sentence in November 2025 after being caught repeatedly trying to cheat the theory test over an eight-month period either by using a hidden earpiece or an impersonator.
The rise in reported cheating comes as learner drivers face persistently long waits for practical tests slots. The DVSA said it had no evidence cheating was linked to waiting times.
However, Carly Brookfield, chief executive of the Driving Instructors Association, told the BBC she was not surprised that fraud was on the rise in this context. "It almost seems inevitable in an era of lots of demand, but very little consistent supply, that you are going to get people engaging in risky behaviours, like using a cheat service to try and pass." She said people who "don't want to risk going on the torturous merry-go-round and trying to get another slot...might take the risk, unfortunately, of cheating."
Dr Kassem also believed long wait times to book a slot was likely to be a factor, with some people resorting to fraud for reasons such as needing to get a licence quickly for a job.
In December, the National Audit Office warned that the driving test backlog would not be cleared until November 2027. Causes include poor recruitment and retention of examiners and third-party websites booking up slots using automated programs known as bots.
The Department for Transport (DfT) previously announced more action to try to get the backlog down, including employing military driving examiners and only allowing learner drivers to book and manage their practical driving tests from the coming Spring.
Marian Kitson, the DVSA's director of enforcement services, said the organisation was committed to tackling practical and theory test fraud, and had increased its detection capabilities. "It is essential that all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge, and attitude to drive safely. People who attempt to cheat driving tests put all road users at risk by trying to obtain a driving licence fraudulently," she said. "Our counter-fraud team carries out robust investigations into suspected fraud, working with the police to bring fraudsters to justice and keep Britain's roads safe."
| Re: Copyright of images - do you need to check your old posts? In "News, Help and Assistance" [371272/31403/29] Posted by grahame at 12:33, 21st January 2026 Already liked by Red Squirrel | |
I have started a new sticky thread to leave the key elements of this easily available at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=31486 and that is where the tags, when you use them, will direct readers.
| Copyright on the Coffee Shop [reference thread] In "News, Help and Assistance" [371271/31486/29] Posted by grahame at 12:17, 21st January 2026 | |
This is now the thread linked to by the (?) from our copyright datails tags
All content in this thread is written with the best knowledge I have, but I am not a legal expert and if in doubt you should check further.
There is further background and an FAQ at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=31403.0
For members posting
You are responsible for what you post. The Coffee Shop software provides an element of assistance in that it will only public share images "hotlinked" from external sites if you add a tag indicating the copyright status of them. If no such tag is supplied, guests viewing the posts will see a redaction message.
For all readers
We have provided a number of options that you may use to declare copyright status. And this thread describes what they mean. It's here both to give you the choice of what to say if you're posting, and to inform you if you're reading this message.
[CC] to state Image is shared Creative Commons (by poster) (?)
This says that the images may be/are shared, with credit and under the same license. ("Share and share alike"). There's a variety of Creative Commons licenses - see https://www.wellho.info/pix for the one I chose to use.
[CR] to state Image copyright Reserved (by poster) (?)
This says that the poster has put the image here, but does not license them for any further use / sharing. "If you want to re-use, please ask me"
[CD] to state Image cleared for poster's use here (?)
This says that the image is not the poster's but (s)he has permission to use it here. You need to check with the image's copyright holder for futher advise.
[PD] to state Image is in Public Domain (?)
This image is believed to be in the public domain and can be shared even without any attribution. Usually applies to old stuff but is complex
see https://lawdit.co.uk/readingroom/whose-copyright-is-expiring-this-year
[FU] to state Images in this post are reproduced here under a fair use exception (?)
Limited quoting in allowed for critical review, education, news reporting and a couple of other reasons, and this content is allowd here because of that. There is a good description at https://www.briffa.com/blog/understanding-copyright-and-fair-use/
[CO] to state Image has other copyright (?)
Something different to any of the above - if posting, please add an explanation.
[CN] No statement is made
but the image is never the less public visible
[CS] to state Image is shared Creative Commons (by Coffee Shop) (?)
This is the one I use. see https://www.wellho.info/pix. That should be used where you quote an image from my library in public
[AR] to state All rights reserved © (?)
Copyright applies to much more than images - it also applies to prose, poetry, editorial content, and much more. Members posting are reminded that they should take especial care in public posts when adding longer quotes. If you want an explicit general copright notice on your post you may add
| Re: Recycling rubbish and charity shops - something of a minefield? Ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371270/30854/31] Posted by Mark A at 12:11, 21st January 2026 | |
That's reminded me of one of my own family memories, Mark. [Image from here is not available to guests]
**snip** Looking up at the chimney piece above the range in their kitchen **snip**
**snip** Looking up at the chimney piece above the range in their kitchen **snip**
That's put me straight into anecdote mode: the tale told to me by the signwriter who, as a child, had been evacuated to... Woodford Halse... and an encounter with a farmer led to an... intervention... but I'll have recounted *that* one.
Mark
| Re: Squirrels - red or grey, on the railways or otherwise: merged topic In "The Lighter Side" [371269/5560/30] Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 11:53, 21st January 2026 Already liked by rogerw, Red Squirrel | |
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371268/231/28] Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:19, 21st January 2026 | |
I took the bus out to Portishead a couple of days ago, and then walked to Pill to see progress. The photos are in this BRC post, for those who may be interested:
https://bristolrailcampaign.org.uk/portishead-railway-january-2026-update/
https://bristolrailcampaign.org.uk/portishead-railway-january-2026-update/
A really nice report and that may well have sparked my own interest to do something very similar in the Spring/Summer. It's the X4 bus, isn't it?
| Re: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion In "Campaigns for new and improved services" [371267/231/28] Posted by Red Squirrel at 10:56, 21st January 2026 Already liked by IndustryInsider, Chris from Nailsea, johnneyw, Mark A, GBM, rogerw, Oxonhutch, TonyK, eightonedee, Western Pathfinder | |
I took the bus out to Portishead a couple of days ago, and then walked to Pill to see progress. The photos are in this BRC post, for those who may be interested:
https://bristolrailcampaign.org.uk/portishead-railway-january-2026-update/
| Re: Delays on Devon services - merged posts, ongoing discussion In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [371266/28378/24] Posted by REVUpminster at 10:16, 21st January 2026 | |
Is it because the IETs and Voyager cannot stop in Dawlish for one minute?
Paignton-Exmouth has six turbos and one 2 car 150 maintaining the service.
I remember the 143s ploughing through even though one did lose a side window to a wave.
| Re: Recycling rubbish and charity shops - something of a minefield? Ongoing discussion In "The West - but NOT trains in the West" [371265/30854/31] Posted by Marlburian at 09:57, 21st January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
For several days there's been a bit of yellow rubbish in the hedge opposite my house. When I put out my red recycling bin this morning, I peered at it and discovered it was an admonition about the wrong items being put in a bin - from Herefordshire Council, a hundred miles away. (I conscientiously put it in my black bin.)
(Earlier this week, I did an 80-minute perambulation of Tilehurst and was shocked about the amount of litter, mostly recyclable.)
| Re: Twyford parking rules could change as Elizabeth Line route opens In "London to Reading" [371264/26895/7] Posted by BBM at 09:34, 21st January 2026 | |
A couple of news stories from today which are reporting that the Twyford car parking issue will be debated at tomorrow's full council meeting of Wokingham Borough Council:
https://wokingham.today/twyford-station-car-park-comes-to-council/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg5g149484po
| Re: Dawlish - permanent resilience work - ongoing discussions In "London to the West" [371262/22771/12] Posted by bobm at 08:55, 21st January 2026 Already liked by Mark A | |
It happened yesterday and I think Monday too. High tide at Teignmouth this morning was 08:03 at nearly 15ft coupled with strong southerly winds.
| Re: Dawlish - permanent resilience work - ongoing discussions In "London to the West" [371261/22771/12] Posted by TaplowGreen at 08:47, 21st January 2026 | |
"Permanent resilience" doesn't seem to be working too well today?
Cancellations to services between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids
Due to forecasted severe weather between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids:
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or running non stop between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids. Disruption is expected until 12:00 21/01.
Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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Poor weather is forecast this morning in the Dawlish area.
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What are we doing about it?
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Until the weather improves, we are unable to call trains formed of our Intercity Express Trains at stations between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids, including Teignmouth, Dawlish and Dawlish Warren.
| Re: SERUG agm Wednesday 21 January In "South Western services" [371260/31483/42] Posted by bradshaw at 08:31, 21st January 2026 | |
I will try and look out for you both.
