THE number of driving tests carried out in Northern Ireland remain almost 50 percent down on normal, new statistics reveal.
Despite test centres re-opening and a large increase in testing since July and August, the numbers remain low.
Practical driving tests were suspended by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) on March 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since the resumption of testing in July, more than 20,000 driving tests have taken place.
But the numbers are significantly reduced compared to the average.
The DVA said it "conducted 126 driving tests in July, 449 in August, and 2,821 in September.
"These are 2.6 per cent, 8.9 per cent, and 53.9 per cent of the relevant five-year monthly averages prior to the Covid-19 pandemic."
The figures, revealed in the 'DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics report', come just a week after the DVA's online booking system for driving tests reopened.
But high demand from thousands of people has meant many have been unable to secure a slot.
During May and June only a handful of ‘key-worker’ theory tests were also conducted.
These tests have increased with a total of 14,802 driver theory tests completed since July 6, when testing resumed.
The report also examined the number of vehicle tests carried out over the past three months.
Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the DVA suspended all vehicle testing from March 24, which meant no tests were conducted during April and May.
Figures reveal that since the DVA resumed some testing on June 1 and for priority vehicle groups on July 20 with additional categories starting in September, there has been an increase number carried out each month.
In total, the DVA conducted 2,894 vehicle tests in July, 4,540 in August, and 12,710 in September.
