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Drivers gearing up to take their road test may have to wait a little longer before getting behind the wheel.
Anyone hoping to become licensed to drive in Saskatchewan can now schedule their road test, but it will likely take three to eight weeks before drivers can take their test.
Tyler McMurchy, SGI’s media relations manager, said a backlog of about 500 people are still waiting to take their road test.
“We’re trying to get through the backlog as best we can right now, realizing that these are not normal times and that there are limited testing spots available,” McMurchy said.
“We cannot deliver the number of tests that we did in pre-pandemic times so we do appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding that we are trying to get through the testing demand as quickly as we can.”
Road tests were put on hold during the COVID-19 lockdown in Saskatchewan. Now SGI has introduced a new process to allow potential drivers to test during the pandemic.
McMurchy said drivers who are eligible to test can visit or call an issuing office to receive a road test receipt, which will allow them to go to SGI’s webpage and fill out a driver road test appointment request form.
Once that has been filled out, the form can be submitted online for SGI to review. The eligible potential driver will then be contacted by SGI to book their road test.
SGI has 14 locations in Saskatchewan for road tests, including Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Swift Current, North Battleford, Yorkton, Meadow Lake, Humboldt, Weyburn. Kindersley, Lloydminster, Tisdale, Estevan and Moose Jaw.
If appointments aren’t available in the location requested by the driver, they will be added to the wait list until an appointment becomes available.
McMurchy said drivers can now elect where to take their road test.
“In the past, in pre-pandemic times, people were booked into tests where they lived,” he said. “In order to address the backlog that we are seeing, we are allowing people to take a test in other locations.”
The policy was put in place to prevent drivers from travelling to take their tests elsewhere. During COVID-19, however, SGI has reopened testing for individuals at any location to deal with their backlogs.
McMurchy said it isn’t known at this time whether this policy will remain after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
“It is a reflection of the current process because capacity is limited and there are some centres that have shorter wait lists than others,” McMurchy said.
“In the situation we’re currently in, we are happy if someone can get a test sooner in another community if they’re willing to travel.”
Regardless of where the test is taken, potential drivers will have to execute the same skills over the same amount of time to demonstrate they are qualified to earn their Saskatchewan Class 5 driver’s licence.
“Road tests across Saskatchewan are standardized, each being the same with respect to length and left and right turns, the number of controlled and uncontrolled intersections, parallel parking and various speed zones,” McMurchy said.
“There may be some differences with respect to traffic volumes or the presence of an uncontrolled railway crossing or one-way streets.”
About half of drivers pass their test on their first attempt, with a high number passing their second or third try.
McMurchy said he passed his test on the first try.
“I was very nervous when I passed,” he said with a chuckle.