The Department of Transport is introducing several changes to its services to manage disruption arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Practical Driving Assessments (PDAs) will continue but they will be limited and prioritised according to need.
From Monday (March 30), C Class (car) PDAs will only be available to learners who require a driver’s licence for employment or emergency services, and customers who have a PDA booked which they do not urgently require are being asked to cancel online.
The Department of Transport is contacting all booked candidates to ascertain if they fall into the priority categories of freight task, medical reasons or carers, employment (essential services) and emergency services.
Priority candidates will be booked in at the earliest possible date for a test at an available site.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transport will continue to offer motorcycle licence and heavy vehicle PDAs to assist the freight industry.
The department is also working with elderly drivers that are ordinarily required to undertake a medical assessment or Practical Driving Assessment to prove their fitness to drive.
The Department of Transport is looking to introduce a manual process that can be offered to elderly clients that are unable to undertake their medical assessment for their driver’s licence.
Furthermore, drivers that require a new photograph when renewing their licence will be temporarily excused from this requirement so visitation to licensing centres is minimised.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“These steps are aimed at keeping employees and customers safe while delivering resources to where they are most needed.
“It also ensures the more vulnerable members of our community can renew their licences without having to attend in person.
“My office has been contacted by elderly drivers who do not want to attend their GP or their local licensing centres in person. I respect and agree with their position.
“This is an extremely challenging time and I urge customers to be patient as we manage the COVID-19 crisis.”
