DVLA admits 168,000 drivers with health conditions waiting for licences

Agency's chief executive tells MPs it is missing its own targets after backlog built up during pandemic

Almost 170,000 motorists with health conditions are waiting for driving licences to be issued as civil servants struggle to clear a backlog of nearly 50,000 applications that built up during the pandemic.

DVLA's chief executive, Julie Lennard, confirmed in evidence to MPs on Thursday that 168,000 medical driving licence applications, including new licences and renewals, were pending as of 23 November.