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According to Joana Ribas, the President of the Balearic Association of Driving Schools, out of the 16 officials responsible for examining in the archipelago, \u00a0eight plan to leave\u00a0, another has passed competitive exams for a different position, and one is approaching retirement. “I had anticipated losing four or five, but ten was unexpected,” she admitted.<\/p>\n
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A Worsening Problem<\/strong>. After highlighting the potential crisis of losing these crucial professionals, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has reportedly committed to delaying some of the transfers of these examiners by several months, allowing for coverage during the busy summer months. Additionally, the DGT will send temporary staff to fill vacancies on the islands.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nonetheless, driving schools are looking towards the future with concern. The community has been alerting about the chronic shortage of traffic personnel for some time now, especially since many of those who have requested to leave cover areas such as \u00a0Ibiza\u00a0 and \u00a0Menorca\u00a0.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A year ago, there were approximately \u00a08,000\u00a0 students awaiting their driving exams, and at the beginning of 2025, the waiting list is still at \u00a07,000\u00a0. It\u2019s no surprise that to take the practical exam, a requirement for obtaining a driving license, students have to wait \u00a0months\u00a0. “The problem lies in the constant makeshift solutions from the Ministry, which fails to consider expanding the number of examiners. We need about \u00a0seven to eight more examiners\u00a0 in the Balearics,” Ribas stated.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n More Than Just Drivers<\/strong>. The difficulties faced by the Balearic Islands in meeting the demand for driving licenses stem not only from the availability of examiner positions, but also from the issue of attracting new personnel. Examiners relocating from other regions of Spain often struggle to settle in a place where the cost of living is skyrocketing. Over the past year, housing prices in the archipelago have surged by \u00a0over 17%\u00a0, according to data from Idealista.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The net result? Public servants moving to the islands often look to \u00a0transfer\u00a0 to other regions where the cost of living, particularly in terms of housing, does not approach the staggering \u00a0\u20ac6,625 per square meter\u00a0 seen in places like Ibiza. Ribas emphasizes that even if new recruits arrive to meet immediate vacancies, the underlying issues are likely to resurface in just a few years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Is This a New Issue?<\/strong> No. A year ago, *El Confidencial* already warned of the complex scenario faced by driving school students in the Balearics and the challenges of making the islands appealing to examiners from the mainland. The newspaper noted that the \u00a0insularity bonus\u00a0 for those in the archipelago was only \u00a0\u20ac80\u00a0, a stark contrast to the \u00a0\u20ac400\u00a0 provided in regions like the Canaries, Ceuta, or Melilla. Traffic authorities recognize that one of the primary factors influencing the shortage of examiners is \u00a0high living costs\u00a0, especially in places as expensive as Ibiza.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Local associations have been vocal about the need for more examiners and have suggested several solutions. Ribas, for instance, proposes creating \u00a0internal pools\u00a0 to facilitate filling examiner vacancies in more problematic areas with local personnel. The ultimate goal is to prevent scenarios as seen this summer and discourage students from pursuing their licenses in other parts of Spain, where waiting times are much shorter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beyond Just Examiners<\/strong>. In the Balearic Islands, driving schools face challenges not only in securing traffic examiners but also in hiring instructors. Recently, *El Diario* revealed that schools are actively seeking teachers from the mainland or even from other European countries, often offering relocation packages that include accommodation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The issue of high living costs, particularly housing, affecting the recruitment of essential services is not unique to the Balearic Islands. For instance, similar challenges are faced in \u00a0Galicia\u00a0, especially with the recruitment of summer lifeguards.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In conclusion, the \u00a0severe shortage of traffic examiners\u00a0 in the Balearic Islands presents not only an immediate challenge but also hints at a broader issue concerning the attractiveness of the region for professionals. Without effective solutions, the dream of acquiring a driving license may continue to be a distant reality for many aspiring drivers in the archipelago.<\/p>\n![\"Ibiza](\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750155325_593_Rent-prices-in-the-Balearic-Islands-have-increased-so-much.jpeg\"\/)
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