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

 

Alastair Peoples, VOSA’s 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, the DSA’s former Chief Executive, stepped down on 30 June and has also announced that she will be leaving the Civil Service.

 

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 to work with. I will now begin the process of working with staff and stakeholders to develop proposals to combine the work of VOSA and DSA. We will continue to provide a quality service and the same level of professionalism while taking forward this work.”

 

The merger is an outcome of the recent motoring services strategy consultation designed to offer motorists and businesses better and more convenient services, while making road safety a top priority.