ICBC non-commercial road tests resume with huge backlog, COVID-19 precautions

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Prospective drivers in B.C. will have a chance at a licence with non-commercial road tests getting underway again in two weeks’ time as ICBC works through a backlog of appointments.

Non-commercial road tests, which haven’t been available since mid-March, will start again July 20. The new process is going to look a little different and take a little longer because of the COVID-19 measures.

Road tests resuming @icbc on July 20th.@dave_eby says this week motorcyles & those recommended by doctors and trailer testing.
Online scheduling system starting so ppl don’t have to go in to book
55,000 appts cancelled due to restrictions.#bcpoli #covid19 @NEWS1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) July 6, 2020

Both drivers and the examiners will be wearing medical-grade masks provided by ICBC, as well as face shields or goggles, and gloves.

How the testing will work: Medical grade masks will be worn (provided) also full face mask or goggles and gloves – @dave_eby says.
He says there are no backlogs in commercial testing that started a month ago.#bcpoli #covid19 @news1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) July 6, 2020

With new precautions, Attorney General David Eby says examiners will be able to do fewer tests than before, meaning it will take time to work through 55,000 cancelled bookings.

“Those folks who had exams scheduled in March and had those exams cancelled, they’ll be called by ICBC this week and they’ll be first in the queue to the exams when they resume,” he says.

Usually examiners can do 9+ exams a day but with additional precautions will be about 7 max this is why more examiners and exam locations are being set up.
pre-covid, @dave_eby says they could do 20,000 tests a month.#bcpoli #covid19 @news1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) July 6, 2020

Eby says with a maximum of about 20,000 tests possible a month before additional precautions, it will add some extra time to work through the backlog.

“That 55,000 figure, that includes retests that people do after they fail their initial test – unfortunately, there’s a large percentage of people who do fail their test and have to schedule a second test,” he says, adding it will be a long wait if someone does fail. “So my advice to prospective drivers is: be ready for your test.”

The majority of road tests are for class 5 and 7 licences, which make of 88 per cent of tests. Commerical and motorcycle tests make up about 6 per cent each of the total.

To speed things up, Eby says ICBC is training more examiners and will be opening more testing locations. More details are expected to be released.

A new online booking process is also being rolled out.

Motorcycle tests and those recommended by their doctor will start this week. Meanwhile, commercial tests started a month ago, and Eby says there is no backlog there.

So far, about 1,360 commercial tests have been done as of Monday, according to ICBC, and another 910 tests are already booked.