WIREDGOV

Basildon's £1.5million multi purpose test centre (MPTC) coming soon...

DRIVING STANDARDS AGENCY News Release (DSA 40/08) issued by The Government News Network on 26 August 2008

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) can announce the opening of a new
£1.5 million Multi Purpose Test Centre (MPTC) at Basildon, Essex on September 29.

The MPTC in Basildon will offer new and improved facilities to learner bikers and drivers by offering a modern, purpose-built and energy efficient building which is fully Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant. It also has secure off-road parking and an enclosed tarmac area to conduct the new manoeuvres for bikers.

Motorcycle testing will change substantially on September 29 when a
European Community Directive introduces major changes in the way we test
learner motorcyclists.

These changes include new manoeuvres which must be undertaken at speeds
of between 30 and 50kph (31.5m.p.h.)

For road safety reasons these manoeuvres can not be carried out on public
roads and it is for this reason that, following extensive consultation, the DSA set about finding suitable sites to conduct the off-road manoeuvres at new multi-purpose test centres (MPTCs).

In addition to this, again following full public consultation, the DSA is to cease car practical testing at Southend Driving Test Centre, on 5 December 2008.

On this date the current car testing service will be re-located to the new Multi Purpose Test Centre at Basildon.DSA Chief Executive Rosemary Thew said "The new motorbike test will contribute to improvements in road safety and this multi-purpose test centre fits into our overall vision of improving facilities for riders and drivers across Great Britain. "

Notes to Editor

1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport.

2. Information on road casualties is available on the Department for Transport website http://www.dft.gov.uk

3. The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through improving driving standards, testing drivers and riders fairly and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving Instructors and Large Goods Vehicle Instructors and Post Test Motorcycle Trainers as well as supervising basic training for learner motorcyclists.

4. DSA is a trading fund with an expected turnover of around £164 million for the year 2007/8, fully funded by fee income and revenue from its activities.

5. DSA employs 2657 (2,585 full time equivalent), of which some 2,020 are driving examiners (1945 full time equivalent) based at over 432 test centres across mainland Great Britain. In 2006/2007 the Agency conducted 1.8 million practical tests for car drivers, 89,000 vocational tests and 78,000 motorcycle rider tests. A total of 1.5 million theory tests were carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there were 39,001 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.

6. DSA is one of the first Government Agencies to introduce an 'online' booking service. Candidates can book and manage their theory and practical test appointments on line at http://www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest