Singapore’s roads are seeing more aspiring drivers, but behind the scenes, learners are facing an uphill battle to secure practical driving lessons.
The post-pandemic surge in learner drivers has left driving schools fully booked for months, with some students waiting up to six months before they can take their first lesson. In response, some students are turning to unconventional methods like booking bots to secure these limited slots.
The Rise of Booking Bots
In recent months, driving schools have struggled to meet the overwhelming demand for lessons. With wait times ranging from two to six months, some students have resorted to using internet bots to quickly reserve any open slots.
These bots—commonly used to buy concert tickets or secure booking slots for sports facilities—are now being employed by learners desperate to secure a lesson.
Paul Chan, a 22-year-old undergraduate, shared his frustrations: “I’ve definitely considered using bots, as I’ve heard about them on forums like Reddit’s r/Drivingsg. But it can be unreliable at times too, so I still prefer to camp on the website whenever I’m available to get a slot myself. It can be frustrating.”
Bots give students an unfair advantage, allowing them to book slots faster than others.
For a small fee—around S$10 per bot credit—students can either be notified of available slots or have the bots automatically secure them. However, the use of these automated tools raises ethical questions. Is it fair for some students to gain an advantage simply by using technology others may not have access to?
Driving Schools Fight Back
Driving schools are taking measures to combat the rise of bots.
The Singapore Safety Driving Centre in Woodlands has issued warnings against using these bots, while ComfortDelGro Driving Centre has introduced penalties, such as suspending students for three months if they are caught using automated booking tools.
ComfortDelGro’s efforts have already paid off, with fewer students using bots on their platform. Vincent Tan, CEO of ComfortDelGro Driving Centre, said they have also employed AI algorithms and CAPTCHA tests to prevent bot activity, ensuring that “everybody will have a fair chance to book their sessions.”
Paul, who is facing a two-month wait for his first lesson, agrees that securing lessons has become a competitive endeavor.
Despite the rise of bots, he shared that getting a license is still important to him: “At the end of the day, having a driving license is still something important to me personally, as it can be useful in the future when I go overseas. You never know when you will ever need it.”
Expanding Resources: A Long-Term Solution?
To address the shortage of slots, driving schools like ComfortDelGro have added resources. The school has introduced new car simulators and expanded its fleet, adding over 700 learning sessions per week. ComfortDelGro is also considering integrating more advanced technology, such as car cameras, to help students learn more effectively.
While these expansions are promising, they may not entirely alleviate the backlog. Bukit Batok Driving Centre still faces the longest wait times, with no available slots until February or March of next year. For many students, this makes the option of hiring private driving instructors more appealing, though the number of private instructors has been steadily decreasing over the years.
Car-Sharing: The Future of Driving?
Even as Singapore pushes to become more car-lite, many young people still aspire to drive, not necessarily to own a car, but to take advantage of car-sharing services. Paul, like many young drivers, has found car-sharing to be a practical alternative: “For now, I think renting is still a more viable option, especially since it’s very convenient nowadays to rent for short-term drives just to run some errands.”
Car-sharing platforms like GetGo and Tribecar are experiencing a rise in sign-ups, particularly from younger drivers. Tribecar reports that one in three of its new sign-ups are drivers aged 25 or below, while GetGo has seen a fourfold increase in sign-ups from that same demographic since 2022.
With car-sharing becoming more accessible and affordable, many younger Singaporeans are rethinking traditional car ownership. Instead of navigating the complexities of obtaining a license only to face high car prices, more are opting for flexible, short-term car rentals.
Navigating the Future of Driving Instruction in Singapore
The current situation with driving lessons in Singapore highlights the challenges of balancing demand with fairness. As driving schools continue to combat unethical booking practices, they must also focus on expanding resources to meet the growing interest in driving.
For students like Paul, the wait may be long, but having a license still holds value, especially as flexible options like car-sharing become increasingly available.
The rise of booking bots and long wait times reflect the growing pains of a post-pandemic world, but driving schools are slowly adapting to the new reality.
Whether through expanded resources, stricter regulations, or technological advancements, the goal remains to provide a fair and efficient path to obtaining a license in Singapore’s ever-evolving road landscape.
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