Trending

Learner drivers’ frustration as DVSA website crashes leaving thousands in queue to book test

The DVSA website was promptly taken offline after reopening due to "unprecedented demand".

The Manc The Manc - 26th August 2020
Flickr

Learner drivers across the UK have been taking to social media to express frustration at excessive queue numbers after the DVSA website crashes again.

Those looking to book a date for a practical driving test have reported experiencing several issues with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) website after the online booking system first reopened on 21st August following the cancellation of tests during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

The website was then promptly taken offline after reopening due to “unprecedented demand”.

It’s now believed that the website went down again this morning just a minute after it reopened and in some prior cases, angry hopeful drivers were “sat waiting for hours” to book their practical driving exam.

Others have reported logging on to the site on right on the reopening time, only to be faced with virtual queues of more than 20,000 people.

ADVERTISEMENT

Some have complained of being kicked out the queue and having to start again, as well as being redirected to the start when they finally get through to choose which test they want to book.

In response to the delays to test bookings caused by website technical difficulties, the DVSA tweeted that: “Driving test booking service update – For those who have experienced a problem with getting into the booking system, please try again.

ADVERTISEMENT

“You should now be able to get into the booking system queue.

“Sorry for any inconvenience.”

They said earlier this morning that they had 35,675 tests available over the next six weeks, and you can find out more via the DVSA website here.

Trending

Met Office predicts UK is set for ‘hotter than average’ summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Sunbathing in the park

The Met Office is predicting that the UK is set for a ‘hotter than average’ summer this year.

Fresh off-the-back of the news that 2025 is already the hottest spring on record, with a recorded 630 hours of sunshine from 1 March until 27 May, beating out the previous sunniest spring in 2020 by just four hours, the Met Office is now predicting that the UK is on the verge of a summer that’s ‘hotter than usual’.

According to its three-month outlook, the Met Office has predicted that it’s 2.3 times more-likely than ‘normal’ that it will be hot in the UK between 1 June and 31 August.

The average temperatures during those months are set to range from 10-17°C.

After it was revealed that this has also been the UK’s driest spring in more than a century, meteorologists are warning Brits that there could heatwave conditions could be reached at various times throughout the summer.

The release of the long-range forecast – which gives an indication of possible temperatures, rainfall, and wind speed over a period as a whole – comes after temperatures soared to 8°C (46F) above the average for this time of year this Saturday just gone (31 May).

It is important to note, however, that the Met Office thinks these predicted temperatures are similar to those in recent years, and it does not guarantee ‘prolonged’ hot weather.

The Met Office is predicting that the UK is set for ‘hotter than average’ summer this year / Credit: Mylo Kaye (via Unsplash)

The Met Office said in a statement: “While the current three-month outlook shows an increased chance of a hot summer, the temperature signals for this summer are similar to those for recent years and consistent with our warming climate.

“The increased chance of hotter than average temperatures is not a guarantee of prolonged hot weather or heatwaves, but it does mean that heatwave conditions could be reached at times.

Read more:

“However, it’s important to bear in mind that an increased chance of hot conditions could also reflect a mix of hot and cool days, warm nights, or less extreme levels of warmth rather than continual heatwave conditions specifically.”

Featured Image – Garry Knight (via Flickr)

Trending

Doctor Who fans left scratching their heads over new star following ‘surprise’ regeneration

Danny Jones Danny Jones Doctor Who regenerates into Billie Piper

Thousands of Doctor Who fans have been left scratching their heads following the most recent season finale and yet another regeneration that absolutely NO ONE was expecting.

Seriously, if you predicted this, then you’re just lying.

Following the series 15 conclusion – or rather the ‘second’ under the Disney+ umbrella – which saw Ncuti Gatwa vacate the moniker after just two series, showrunner Russell T Davies made his first real big splash since returning to the franchise.

If you’re looking for just one singular meme that sums up the general audience’s reaction to the episode, look no further:

Doctor Who remains one of the most iconic British TV shows of all time, but it’s fair to say it hasn’t been without its ups and downs over the years, and this latest turn has proved just as divisive.

After being first brought back from a 16-year hiatus following the sci-fi series’ original run from 1963 to 1989, the latest iteration is now two decades and six new Doctors in.

Or is that seven?…

Sex Education star Gatwa may be the 15th Doctor all told (with David Tennant’s own mini return marking number 14), but it looks like the latest might be former reboot star Rose Tyler herself, a.k.a. Billie Piper.

Remaining tight-lipped on social media, Billie has said little more than fans will have to “wait and see”, as well as her cryptic “a rose is a rose” post; as for the BBC themselves, they have only offered a press release, teasing that “just how and why she [Billie Piper] is back remains to be seen…”

In case you haven’t seen it yet, let’s all watch it together in real time, shall we?

What a surprise!

While there are plenty of clues and theories now being picked apart by so-called ‘Whovians’, we have little more evidence than the scene itself and the final line in the end credits of the episode, which read: “Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. And introducing Billie Piper”.

Plenty of fans are obviously over the moon to see the 42-year-old back on board, regardless of the circumstances, but it hasn’t stopped them from tying themselves up in knots of confusion, especially given the very obvious canon questions posed following the reveal.

For anyone not even remotely clued up on her connection to the show, Billie Piper previously played Rose Tyler – the first companion of the modern era, who has returned for a number of cameos in the past – but (no spoilers), having her return as not just a different character but THE Doctor seems rather complex.

Nevertheless, the speculation that has ensued online since the reveal has been enjoyable on both sides of the argument.

Since the recent rebrand to make the show more palatable to American and global viewers, there has been a noticeable increase in the community’s presence online.

One overseas fan wrote X: “It’s been 20 years and Rose Tyler is still my favourite companion, she was my first after all. In whatever incarceration Billie Piper shows up as, it just reminds me of being a teen again, being introduced to this wild British TV show on the SciFi channel.

As far as our opinion, we’re only casual Doctor Who fans, but we can’t lie, we’re pretty excited to see whatever they have in store.

What do you make of the whole thing? Is Billie Piper really going to become the new Doctor and, if so, are you on board, or are you in the camp of it’s a bit of opportunistic lip service for fans?

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC (press images/screenshot)

More Trending

Oldham

Oldham Athletic’s hero owner Frank Rothwell showered with praise after promotion back to EFL

CLINTS streetwear festival Manchester info

Art & Culture

A popular Manc streetwear brand is hosting a big festival to mark their fifth birthday

Alex Sanderson quotes Rudyard Kipling Sale Sharks semis

Sport

Alex Sanderson summons Rudyard Kipling as Sale Sharks scrape into the semi-finals

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches