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Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

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Abbreviation
  
DVSA

Region served
  
Great Britain

Formation
  
1 April 2014

Chief Executive
  
Gareth Llewellyn

Type
  
Government agency (Trading fund)

Purpose
  
Setting driving and vehicle standards

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is an executive agency of the UK Department for Transport (DfT).

The agency was formally launched on 1 April 2014, taking over the responsibilities of the Driving Standards Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

The responsibilities of DVSA only cover Great Britain. In Northern Ireland the same role is carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA).

Aims and objectives

DVSA sets the standards for drivers and vehicles in Great Britain. It tests and enforces those standards through the driving test and the MOT scheme.

It is responsible for:

  • setting the standard for safe and responsible driving and riding
  • carrying out theory and practical driving tests for all types of motor vehicles
  • maintaining the register of approved driving instructors
  • approving training bodies and instructors to provide compulsory basic training and direct access scheme courses for motorcyclists
  • running the tests that allow people to join and stay on the voluntary register of large goods vehicle instructors
  • running the tests that allow people to join and stay on the voluntary register of driver trainers who train drivers of car and van fleets
  • setting the standards for the drink-drive rehabilitation scheme, running the scheme and approving the courses that offenders can take
  • conducting annual testing of lorries, buses and trailers through authorised testing facilities (ATFs) and goods vehicle testing stations (GVTS)
  • conducting routine and targeted checks on vehicles, drivers and operators ensuring compliance with road safety legislation and environmental standards
  • supervising the MOT scheme so that over 20,000 authorised garages carry out MOT tests to the correct standards
  • providing administrative support to the Traffic Commissioners in considering and processing applications for licenses to operate lorries, buses, coaches and registered bus services
  • conducting post-collision investigations
  • monitoring products for manufacturing or design defects, highlighting safety concerns and monitoring safety recalls
  • providing a range of educational and advisory activities to promote road safety

    • References

    Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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