The Book Your Theory Test Online blogger investigates the shocking extent of driving licence fraud.
Thousands of unqualified drivers are being unleashed on Britain’s roads, according to a new article published by the Daily Mirror.
The Mirror states that these drivers have never passed a theory test or practical driving exam and have absolutely no knowledge of the Highway Code or any driving experience.
They are issued with false paperwork by unscrupulous gangs who charge thousands of pounds to provide fake documents. Worryingly, it’s not just false car theory test documents or driving licences they are obtaining, false paperwork allowing them to drive HGVs and buses is also being sold.
In a statement from the DVSA, they said: “Gangs are issuing false documents to unqualified drivers, for all vehicle types. They are effectively handing them the keys to a weapon and giving them a licence to kill.”
Unqualified drivers are paying for forged licences and are even paying people to sit the theory test or practical driving exam on their behalf. One such impersonator put 84 unqualified drivers on Britain’s roads alone.
The scandal doesn’t end there! One group bribed a number of corrupt theory test and driving test examiners to give people a free pass to a theory test certificate and then a practical driving exam.
In one tragic case, following an unqualified driver being issued with a fake theory test certificate and driving licence, the Daily Mirror alludes to the case of Josh Reed.
Josh was just three days away from his 19th birthday. He was the passenger of a friend who was driving a Suzuki Swift. Josh’s friend was driving because he’d told people he had passed his test six weeks earlier. Unfortunately, his claim was false.
Josh’s friend was still a learner and that lack of experience resulted in tragedy as the car he was driving was crashed into by a van after he had pulled out in front of it. Josh died, whilst his friend fled the scene. The ‘friend’ was subsequently locked up in a young offender’s institute for just over two years.
In a statement from Josh’s dad, he said: “My son would have been alive if that lad had proper training and experience. The accident would never have happened. When the police came round to tell me my son had died it ripped everybody apart. I was numb. I just ran upstairs and sat on Josh’s bed and cried and cried.”
It’s understood that the gangs responsible for putting people, like Josh’s friend, on the road are charging up to £3,000 for the privilege. One gang were convicted of ‘fixing’ 382 tests, both theory tests and practical driving exams.
In a statement from DVSA inspector, Elaine Rabbitt, she said: “Those who haven’t taken a theory test or undergone a proper practical driving exam are basically killers behind the wheel. Cheating on the theory test is an offence in itself and those caught cheating will be severely dealt with.”
Book Your Theory Test Online offers an intermediary service assisting clients with booking a UK theory test, or practical test, at test centres across the nation. The service also supplies resources to help you prepare for your theory test – Ready to take your theory test? Book your theory test online today…
