The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) was set up in 1990 to promote road safety by improving driving standards. Before this, driving tests were administered by the government department responsible for transport.
The DSA is a government agency and is part of the DVO (Driver and Vehicle Operator) Group.
The DSA currently employs 2,653 staff, of which some 1,911 are driving examiners, conducting over 1.8 million Practical Driving Tests for car drivers at 400 DSA centres nationwide per year. Over 1.5 million Hazard Perception & Theory tests were carried out at 158 DSA centres in 2006/07. There are 41,507 instructors nationwide currently on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.
The DSA's vision is "SAFE DRIVING FOR LIFE".
* Setting standards for drivers and trainers
* Driver education and the provision of learning resources
* Registering and supervising quality assured instructors
* Modern, effective and efficient assessments conducted as computer based and practical tests
All examiners are trained to carry out the driving test to the same standard, they do not have pass or fail quotas. Examiners are accompanied on test quite regularly with the Senior Driving Examiner from their local test centre. This is to make sure that a uniform standard and correct level of assessment is maintained, along with the appropriate attitude and approach towards customers. So as long as you demonstrate the practical standard required you will pass your driving test.
