VOSA and DSA to merge

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VOSA and DSA to merge

Today, Roads Safety Minister Stephen Hammond announced that the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and Driving Standards Agency (DSA), are to merge into a single agency which will bring together their testing and standards services.

Alastair Peoples, VOSA Chief Executive, will become Chief Executive for the two agencies and will oversee their strategic operations towards a full merger over the next year 

Rosemary Thew, DSA Chief Executive, has also announced that she will be stepping down and leaving the Civil Service on 30 June 2013. 

Commenting on the announcement, Alastair Peoples said: 

“I welcome the opportunity of working with both agencies to bring together the vital road safety services we provide. 

The aim of combining the two agencies is to remove duplication of functions, improve efficiency and give our customers a simpler framework of agencies in which to work with. I will now begin the process of working with staff and stakeholders to develop proposals to combine the work of VOSAand DSA. 

We will continue to provide a quality service and the same level of professionalism while taking forward this work”. 

No impact on our services

The changes won’t impact on:

• the services you use that are provided by VOSA and DSA, eg vehicle tests 
• progress of other ongoing reform programmes 

Better and more convenient services

The reforms are an outcome of the recent motoring services strategy consultation. 

They’re designed to offer motorists and businesses better and more convenient services, while making sure that road safety and first class customer service remain a top priority.

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Fees will rise for graduated fixed penalties

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Fees will rise for graduated fixed penalties

Department for Transport have recently announced that fixed penalty levels are expected to increase from July 2013. The changes are being introduced following an extensive public consultation which took place in 2012 with the road safety groups and Police forces.

As well as affecting most motoring fixed penalties offences, graduated fixed penalties and financial deposits will also increase due to the changes. This will mainly affect commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles, and includes offences like drivers’ hours and overloading.

The changes are as follows;

• A £30 non-endorsable fine will rise to £50 
• A £60 endorsable and non-endorsable fine will rise to £100 
• A £120 endorsable and non-endorsable fine will rise to £200 
• A £200 endorsable and non-endorsable fine will rise to £300 

It is also being proposed that the new legislation will increase the maximum amount of deposit requirement that can be taken at the roadside (Applies to non-UK vehicles). Penalty points will not change.

Most penalty levels have not changed since 2000 and these changes are intended to ensure that penalties reflect the seriousness of the offence and are consistent with the penalty levels in other areas of offending.

For more information about current fixed penalty levels please see VOSA’s Guide to Graduated Fixed Penalties and Financial Deposits

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