Motoring agency merger set to improve services for motorists
Roads Minister Stephen Hammond has today (2 April 2014) launched the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Stephen Hammond, Roads Minister, and Alastair Peoples, DVSA Chief Executive, launch the new agency.
DVSA brings together a range of motoring services including:
- driving tests
- goods and passenger vehicle testing
- operator licensing
- the supervision of MOTs
More convenient and cost effective services
The agency has been formed by the merger of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).
It aims to provide more convenient and cost effective services for motorists.
The merger follows a consultation last year looking at how the government can reform its motoring services agencies to put customers first, reduce costs and improve consistency.
Responsibilities of DVSA
DVSA will be responsible for setting, testing and enforcing driver and vehicle standards in Great Britain and employs more than 4,000 staff.
This year it will:
- conduct 1.5 million theory tests and 1.6 million practical driving tests
- be responsible for regulating 28 million MOT tests
- carry out 137,000 roadside inspections
- issue 87,000 operator licenses
- test and inspect 790,000 commercial vehicles
Announcing the launch of DVSA, Stephen Hammond said:
The creation of DVSA builds on the vital work that has already been done to improve road safety and offer modern, cost effective services for motorists. The merged agency offers the opportunity to increase efficiency and further explore ways of providing innovative, convenient services.
DVSA Chief Executive, Alastair Peoples, said:
By bringing testing and standards services into a single agency, we will make life easier for customers by putting them at the heart of the services they rely on and providing a more coherent approach to service delivery.
The 2 former agencies were already undertaking work to make driver and vehicle testing more flexible and convenient for customers. DVSA will continue to keep pace with customers’ needs and deliver services in a way which is both convenient and cost effective.