About the Company

"Road Traffic Safety Directorate" (CSDD) is a state joint stock company acting in accordance with the Road Traffic Law and the CSDD Statutes. CSDD provides vehicle registration, driver qualification examinations and issuance of driving licenses, roadworthiness testing, road safety audit and general supervision, maintains Latvia register of vehicles and their drivers, as well as participates in informing and educating road traffic participants. Road Traffic Safety Directorate also operates Riga Motor Museum, its Bauska branch and Biķernieki racetrack.

After regaining independence from USSR in October 25 1991 in the Ministry of Transport was established a new state institution - the Road Traffic Safety Department, now the Directorate. The decision-making power was separated from the executive power, because in the past everything was done by one institution of the Ministry of the Interior - the State Car Inspectorate. In order to create a new institution first had to be created an appropriate legislative basis. On 30 August 1994 the Cabinet of Ministers issued regulations with the force of law “The Road Traffic” and on 21 October 1997 the State President declare the “Road Traffic Law”. It determines rights to engaging with the general administration of road traffic in Latvia, issues driver's licenses, registers vehicles, develops road traffic regulations, as well as the duties and rights of drivers.

Based on the Road Traffic Law, have been developed normative acts: " Road Traffic Regulations ", " Vehicle Registration Regulations ", " Procedures for Acquisition and Renewal of Driving Licenses and Procedures for Issuance, Exchange, Renewal and Destruction of Driving Licenses ", " Regulations on State Technical Inspection and Technical Control of Road Vehicles ", etc.

Latvia has acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, in the above cases mentioned laws and regulations are based on the requirements of this Convention and European Union regulations.

From 2004 on 1 September CSDD is a state joint stock company.