Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) was an executive agency granted trading fund status in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Transport of the United Kingdom Government. It was announced on 20 June 2013 that VOSA would merge with the Driving Standards Agency into a single agency in 2014. The name of the new agency was confirmed as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on 28 November 2013. VOSA was abolished on 31 March 2014, and its responsibilities passed to the DVSA on 1 April 2014. History The Agency was created from the merger of the Vehicle Inspectorate (VI) and the Traffic Area Network (TAN). The public are most aware of its activities through its regulation of the MOT vehicle inspection test in Great Britain. VOSA are generally better known by commercial vehicle operators as "The Ministry", a throwback to the days of the former Ministry of Transport (MOT). In Northern Ireland this role is performed by the Driver & Vehicle Agency. In 2005 it had approximately 2,500 staff, 1,700 of which are based at its lorry testing garages across Great Britain. Chief Executives Maurice Newey had been appointed chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate in 1998 and became the first chief executive of VOSA in 2003. Stephen Tetlow, joined VOSA as Chief Executive in December 2004 following the retirement of Newey. Alastair Peoples took over from Tetlow as Chief Executive in 2008 until 2014 when VOSA and DSA merged to form DVSA Enforcement charges Its examiners have been granted the ability to issue fixed penalty tickets from 1 April 2009. These cover a range of offences including breaches of drivers hours legislation, overloaded vehicles and also mechanical defects. These tickets can be issued to both UK and foreign nationals. In the first 3 months since the implementation of fixed penalties, the Agency has taken more than £500,000 in fines. Intent To improve road safety and the environment and safeguard fair competition by promoting and enforcing compliance with commercial operator licensing requirements; Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses; Registering bus services; Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT Testing Scheme; Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations; Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements; Providing training and advice for commercial operators; and Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls. Customers Its