Monday briefing: There’s a years-long backlog in driving tests – this is why it matters

The pandemic grew test waiting limits drastically – with no solution in sight. Photograph: True Images/Alamy

Good morning.

For a long time, learning how to drive was a marker of adulthood and the first sign of a transition to full independence. However, like many other traditional indicators of growing up, such as home ownership – or even leaving home in the first place – there are now significant obstacles for young people looking to secure their licence.