Basingstoke MP calls for urgent review after man refused driving test

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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.

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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."

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."

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**

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/

Driver killed and several injured after train derails near Barcelona

A train driver has been killed and at least 15 people injured after a commuter train derailed and crashed near Barcelona, local media report.

According to local officials, the Rodalies train collided with a retaining wall which fell onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní on Tuesday evening.

The severity of injuries suffered by passengers is currently being assessed by emergency services.

The incident occurred as heavy storms battered north-eastern Spain.

Eleven ambulances are on the scene in Gelida, Catalonia - around 35km (21.7 miles) west of Barcelona - treating those injured, emergency services said.

The local fire service said 35 crews have been sent to the scene and have had to rescue one passenger trapped inside the train.

Many coastal areas in the east and north-west of Spain are on high alert because of the weather. There have also been snowstorms in the Spanish Pyrenees and storms along the coast of Menorca, causing waves several metres high.

The crash in Catalonia comes two days after two high-speed trains collided in Adamuz, Andalusia, in one of the worst Spanish rail accidents in over a decade.

At least 42 people are known to have died after carriages on a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed over to the opposite tracks and then collided with an oncoming high-speed train.

Anyone attending the agm?

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Rescuers worked through a second night and said the death toll included three bodies still trapped in a wrecked carriage.
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Sabotage has been ruled out, the interior minister has said, and the initial focus of investigators is on a broken rail on the high-speed line.
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Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia visited the site on Tuesday, shaking hands and speaking to emergency service workers near the site of the crash on the first of three days of national mourning.

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The royals also visited injured passengers later at a hospital in the city of Cordoba

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska ruled out sabotage, telling reporters that it "was never considered", and he stressed that all hypotheses remained open.

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Damaged rails have been the focus of the investigation so far

Óscar Puente warned against speculation and said a lot of cracks had been found on the track but investigators would have to determine whether they had caused the derailment or had been caused by it.

A 30cm gap in one of the rails is the current focus of the investigation, according to Spanish reports.

MP meets rail bosses over Taunton foot crossing where boy died

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An MP has met rail bosses to discuss what can be done to improve safety after a teenage boy was killed on a railway foot crossing.

Harry Basham, 17, was struck by a train in Taunton, Somerset, as he walked to work at about 07:00 BST on 24 October.

Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, said he recently had a "constructive" meeting with Network Rail, which has described what happened as "a tragic accident".

His mother, Leanne Golding, wants to see changes before her son's inquest takes place in May, including a traffic light system and locking gates.

Amos said Network Rail provided data which showed the foot crossing was used about 35 times on an average day. He said the operator did not consider this heavy usage. He said: "I've asked for them to look at convenient alternative ways to cross the railway on foot, and most importantly, for consultation before any decision is taken for this crossing to be closed or kept open."

Golding said her son would have walked across the foot crossing "hundreds of times" to get to and from work. "There are so many ways someone can make a mistake down there, especially in the dark like it was that morning," she added.

A petition set up by a family friend calling for safety improvements has been signed more than 3,600 times.

In a statement, Network Rail said its thoughts were with Harry's family, friends and the local community. "We are in contact with Mr Amos and will engage with local authorities, stakeholders and the community on the future of the crossing," it added.

A spokesperson for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said: "RAIB has submitted a report summarising the evidence gathered during our preliminary examination to His Majesty's Coroner. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragic accident," they added.

19th February

Connect and chat on the Chatty Bus, in partnership with Oxford Hospitals Charity and Age UK Oxfordshire!
Feeling lonely, looking for a friendly chat, or just wanting to brighten your day? Join our Chatty Bus event!

Friendly volunteers from Thames Travel, Oxford Hospitals Charity and Age UK Oxfordshire will be on board the X32 service from 09:00 to 14:30, ready to spark conversations and make introductions. We'll have conversation starters and information about local activities and social groups to suit all interests.

Here's what you can expect:
Friendly volunteers will be on board the X32 bus to chat and make introductions.
Conversation starters, light games, and information about local activities.

This event is perfect for:
Concessionary bus pass holders looking to socialise.
Anyone who is feeling lonely or isolated and wants to connect with others.
People of all ages who love exploring Oxford by bus and would like to chat to others.

  Date: Wednesday 21 January
Venue: Yeovil Railway Centre, Yeovil Junction Station, Newton Road, Yeovil, BA22 9UU
Time: 16.45 - 18.15  (Doors open 16.00)

Note that we have adjusted the timings slightly to suit train arrivals / departures

Refreshments (Teas, Coffees, Sandwiches, etc) will be available.

All are welcome - Members free, Non-Members £8 to include a year's SERUG membership).
 
2026 will be a big year for the recently Nationalised South Western Railway, with a number of operational targets already set by the DfT, plus publication of SWR's Business Plan due in March. So we're delighted that our Guest Speaker will be Peter Williams, SWR Customer and Commercial Director. Peter is responsible for customer and commercial strategy, marketing, retail systems and corporate affairs. He has worked in similar roles at ScotRail and East Coast Trains, and also had a spell working in the United States for Keolis.

Bus fare increases 'taking the mick', says MP

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A rise in bus fares across Lancashire is "outrageous" and operator Transdev are "taking the mick", an MP has said.

All-day tickets are rising from £6 to £7.50, while a weekly ticket is increasing from £19 to £25.

Burnley's MP Oliver Ryan has joined his Labour colleague for Hyndburn, Sarah Smith, in writing to the bus company urging it to reconsider.

However, Transdev has defended the changes, insisting that for many they will actually make journeys cheaper and more flexible.

Ryan told BBC Radio Lancashire the increases were "outrageous" and Transdev were "taking the mick".

"If they'd come back with an inflation rise then people would probably live with that," he said. "But this is a 60-odd per cent increase."

He said parents and students had contacted him concerned about the changes and "when people are struggling I've got to do right by my constituents".

Ryan has since launched a petition calling on the bus company to rethink the hikes and to bring forward alternative ticketing options that protect frequent local passengers from higher costs.

A Transdev spokesman said that despite the changes, many customers would pay less for the same journey - notably to and from Manchester.

He added that other new fares would offer greater flexibility across a larger geographical area, with no change in ticket price for customers making a single or return journey.