DRIVING STANDARDS
AGENCY News Release (DSA 33/09) issued by COI News Distribution
Service on 11 June 2009
* New rules for
trailer and vehicle weights during tests
* Test would better
reflect real-life conditions
* Industry asked to comment on implementation
The Driving Standards Agency today unveiled plans to improve the
test for drivers of lorries and other large vehicles which tow trailers.
At present, learner lorry drivers in Great Britain are tested in
vehicles which do not carry a load - but heavier vehicles and
trailers have different driving characteristics to those of
unladen vehicles. The new proposals will require that the weight
of lorries and trailers used in tests should be similar to the
vehicles which candidates will use on the roads after they have
passed their test.
Chief Executive of DSA, Rosemary Thew, said: "We want to
create a simple, easy to follow and transparent process that
accurately reflects the conditions drivers will face on the road.
"I hope everyone with an interest in the industry will take
the time to respond to this consultation - we want you to help
shape the way this is introduced."
In addition to improving the test for lorry drivers, the new
rules will also affect those wishing to tow whilst driving a
minibus, coach or bus. The new test rules will not apply to car
drivers unless they tow trailers weighing over 750kg. Drivers who
already hold a licence allowing them to drive a lorry or tow a
trailer will not be affected.
The changes will bring the UK in to line with European
regulations on vehicles used in tests. These regulations are
intended to strengthen the testing process and improve safety on
the roads.
Details are available at http://www.dsa.gov.uk/consultation
. DSA will also be writing to those who helped shape the
proposals, inviting them to comment.
For further information contact:
John Atkin, Head of Press Office, 0115 936 6133 or email john.atkin@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
Notes to Editors:
1. It is proposed that full containers of
water or sacks of material such as sand would be used to simulate
the kind of load that drivers have to deal with in their work.
2. This table outlines the categories of vehicles affected by the test:
Licence code Vehicle category Test required to tow trailer
B+E car + trailer Only if trailer exceeds 750kg
C lorry Yes
C+E lorry + trailer Yes
C1+E medium lorry + trailer Yes
C+E articulated lorry Yes
D1+E minibus + trailer Yes
D+E bus + trailer Yes
3. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency * of
the Department for Transport.
4. The DSA's vision is "Safe Driving for Life"
with an overall mission to contribute towards a Government target
of achieving a 40% reduction in riders and drivers killed or
seriously injured in road accidents, in the age group up to 24
years, by 2010.
5. Current information on road casualties is available from the
Department for Transport website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
6. The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through
setting standards for drivers, riders and trainers, testing
drivers and riders fairly and efficiently, maintaining the
registers of Approved Driving Instructors; Large Goods Vehicle
Instructors; Fleet Trainers; Driving Instructor Trainers and Post
Test Motorcycle Trainers; supervising Compulsory Basic Training
(CBT) for learner motorcyclists; and driver education and the
provision of learning resources.
7. DSA is a trading fund * with an expected turnover of around
£199 million for the year 2008/9, largely funded by fee income and
revenue from its activities.
8. DSA employs over 2,700 staff, of which some 2,000 are driving
examiners based at over 400 test centres across mainland Great
Britain. In 2007/2008 the Agency conducted 1.8 million practical
tests for car drivers, over 95,000 vocational tests and 94,000
motorcycle rider tests. A total of 1.7 million theory tests were
carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there were
around 43,600 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.
9. DSA was 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
* Executive agency:
An executive agency is semi-detached from
its parent department and manages its own budget with freedom from
ad hoc, day to day intervention and much of central,
government-wide regulation. They are run under the organisation
and direction of a Chief Executive recruited through open
competition. An executive agency has accountability for the
performance of specific operational tasks as a corporate unit,
including focused performance targets set by the parent department
and personal accountability of the chief executive for performance.
* Trading Fund:
A trading fund is a means of financing
trading activities
undertaken by Government that would
previously have been financed
by annual appropriation from
Parliament. A trading fund permits the establishment of a
self-accounting unit that remains under the control and management
of Ministers and accountable to Parliament through Ministers, but
has greater freedom to manage its financial affairs. Effectively
that means the trading fund body can use its income to settle its
liabilities and retain year-end cash balances.
Establishing
the trading fund does not alter the Agency's constitutional
position and it remains part of the Department for Transport.