We are DVSA: Annual Review 2020 to 2021

Date: Friday 16 July 2021

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Over the last year, DVSA has worked hard to help everyone stay safe on Britain's roads and support critical workers in the national response to the pandemic and have recently presented the ‘We are DVSA: Annual Review 2020 to 2021’, which recognises the many ways DVSA colleagues adapted and overcame great challenges, to deliver important public services.

DVSA appreciates how difficult the past 12 months has been and how the pandemic has impacted individuals, families and businesses. Many people will have lost their loved ones to COVID-19 and, to them, DVSA extends their heartfelt sympathy. This is a more muted than usual celebration of what DVSA has achieved. But they wanted to acknowledge colleagues’ great work in 2020 to 2021, through extraordinary challenge, to support the frontline response to the pandemic and restart services safely.

Coronavirus response
DVSA has had to act quickly to keep colleagues and customers safe, while making sure they met critical workers’ needs. You can read more about how they have responded to COVID-19 in the ‘We are DVSA: Annual Review 2020 to 2021’. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dvsa-annual-review-2020-to-2021

In summary DVSA has:

• suspended the driving test for most candidates
• conducted driving tests for NHS and care workers, allocating driving examiners who were medically fit and who had volunteered to support the national response
• prioritised special ambulance vehicle tests to support the NHS response
• granted MOT extensions on all vehicles
• continued to protect everyone from unsafe vehicles, as our Enforcement Teams continued to keep the roads safe throughout the pandemic
• worked with national stakeholder groups on how to safely restart our services.

Other significant achievements
COVID-19 is the biggest and most complex challenge the country has faced in a generation; however, we also worked hard on several other initiatives including:

• preparing hauliers to get the right EU permits
• supporting Operation Brock on the strategic networks in Kent, by developing a digital solution for checking heavy goods vehicles
• launching Ridefree a free online training course in July 2020, having won a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its trial in 2019.
• updating MOT inspection manuals, categorisation of defects and the guide to maintaining roadworthiness which has changed the way we inspect vehicles and follow up compliance problems with GB operators.

DVSA still have a long 12 months ahead as they develop solutions to tackle the backlog of driving licence and vehicle tests, and they will be issuing updates. Recognising the sensitivity of loss and challenges facing the sector there will not be any further proactive customer or media communications on this review, but they have shared it with stakeholders to illustrate the good work being done to keep Britain's roads safe and support the national response.

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