The Department for Infrastructure have announced that all driving tests and MOTs in Northern Ireland have been cancelled on Friday. The news comes as the region is preparing for the first red weather warning since 2011.
All vehicle tests (MoTs), practical driving tests and driving theory tests will be cancelled. The Department have said that customers do not need to take any action and that all affected customers will receive an email to confirm that their appointment has been cancelled.
The DVA will also contact customers by email, as soon as possible, to confirm details of a new appointment.
Separately, the Department have also announced changes to the Strangford and Rathlin ferry services ahead of the storm.
In a statement, a DfI spokesperson said: "Strangford ferry service will also be suspended from 7.30am on Friday until further notice. The service will remain under review throughout Friday and any updates will be issued via Ferry SMS and DfI’s social media channels.
"Rathlin Ferry Service 4pm departure from Rathlin and the 4.30pm departure from Ballycastle have been cancelled on Thursday, 23 January, and all sailings will be cancelled on Friday 24 January.
"The PSNI has issued a do not travel warning for the period of the red Met Office warning tomorrow between 7am and 2pm tomorrow which will see very strong winds and bring a threat to life. Outside the red warning period, yellow and amber warnings are in place from midnight tonight until midnight Friday with widespread disruption and significant impacts expected.
"While staff are on standby to respond to incidents on the roads please be aware that with the adverse conditions expected and advice not to travel during the period of the red warning , this will affect our ability to respond as quickly as usual and incidents will have to prioritised accordingly. The safety of members of the public and our own staff is paramount."
The spokesperson said that Multi Agency preparations ongoing since yesterday include the Department for Infrastructure’s roads and rivers teams checking and clearing road gullies and other drainage and infrastructure.
"Monitoring of river levels and sea levels has been ongoing and will continue until the weather warning has elapsed. Regional Community Resilience Groups have also been advised of weather patterns and to make appropriate preparations," they added.
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