A view from the Traffic Commissioner 16 November • Barnsley

Kevin Rooney Traffic Commissioner for North East and West of England

”It’ll never happen again” Traffic Commissioners ”It’ll never happen again” Kevin Rooney Traffic Commissioner Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 3

Traffic Commissioner strategic objectives Today’s agenda Traffic Commissioner strategic objectives From the inquiry room – “it’ll never happen again” Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 4

Traffic Commissioner Strategic Objective - 1 To deliver a modern and effective operator licence regime that ensures operators are fit to hold a licence and minimises the regulatory burden on the compliant Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 5

Objective 1 – Our Focus Faster processing of applications Traffic Commissioners Objective 1 – Our Focus Faster processing of applications A value for money licensing process Understanding user needs “Digital by Default” Gatekeeping Working with DVSA to review operator licence fees Working with DfT to streamline legislation Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 6

Objective 1 – what we want you to notice Traffic Commissioners Objective 1 – what we want you to notice   Quarterly publication of application processing times by December 2016. Implementation of a joint SLA with DVSA by April 2017. Decisions on applications by compliant operators reduced to 7 weeks by April 2017... ...and to 4 weeks by April 2019. All operator licensing functions digitally by April 2019. Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 7

Traffic Commissioner Strategic Objective – 2 To promote: a safe road transport industry which supports compliance where competition is fair and where the environment is protected Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 8

Removing the serious and serially non-compliant Traffic Commissioners Objective 2 – our focus Removing the serious and serially non-compliant Taking appropriate regulatory action Maintaining clear statutory guidance on what is expected Being even more transparent in our decision making   Using individual cases to influence wider behaviours Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 9

Objective 2 – what we want you to notice Traffic Commissioners Objective 2 – what we want you to notice Online publication of our written decisions by April 2017 By July 2017, Public Inquiries heard within 12 weeks of being signed-off A review of TC sanction effectiveness, completed by October 2017 Implementation of an enforcement SLA with DVSA by October 2017 Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 10

Traffic Commissioner Strategic Objectives Delivery needs: Fee reform to allow investment Recruitment Legislative change Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 11

Traffic Commissioners From the inquiry room… Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 12

Traffic Commissioner: “So why did they fall off in the first place” Traffic Commissioner: “So the wheels fell off. The police retrieved them from a nearby field. What did you do then?”   Transport Manager: “The fitter went out with some new nuts and bolted them back on. He had a big bar with him – they won’t come off again in a hurry” Traffic Commissioner: “So why did they fall off in the first place” Transport Manager: “Because all the nuts had come off” Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 13

Traffic Commissioner: “So why had all the nuts come off?”   Transport Manager: “They must have worked loose” Traffic Commissioner: “Why did they work loose? When was the wheel last removed? Who removed and replaced it? Were the mating faces cleaned? Was the wheel re-torqued after 30 minutes or a few miles? Is your torque wrench in calibration? Do drivers know the setting for the different vehicles? Just what is your wheel re-torque procedure?” Transport Manager: “I’m not sure. I don’t really know. It’s a mystery. But one thing I can be sure of – it’ll never happen again!” Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 14

From the (Morpeth) inquiry room… Traffic Commissioners From the (Morpeth) inquiry room… Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 15

“it will never happen again” why did it happen in the first place? Traffic Commissioners “it will never happen again” why did it happen in the first place? and why did that happen? and why did he do that? and why did they say that to him? Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 16

Traffic Commissioners “but, really, WHY???” Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 17

Compliance and drivers Traffic Commissioners Compliance and drivers 1 in 6 deaths on the trunk road network involves a driver who is asleep No driver decides to fall asleep There is no “safe” period to drive – most crashes occur within the first two hours Regulations limit commercial incentives – not set “safe” limits Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 18

Sleep related vehicle crashes Traffic Commissioners Sleep related vehicle crashes Driver had clear view of object struck for at least seven seconds No evasive action taken High impact speeds Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 19

Do it frequently – apply a risk-based period Traffic Commissioners Tachograph analysis Do it Do it frequently – apply a risk-based period Unaccounted driving report Check software parameters Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 20

What do these have in common? Traffic Commissioners What do these have in common? Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 23

Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport Traffic Commissioners Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 24

Do it frequently – apply a risk-based period Traffic Commissioners Tachograph analysis Do it Do it frequently – apply a risk-based period Unaccounted driving report Check software parameters Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 25

Any Questions? Kevin Rooney Traffic Commissioner Traffic Commissioners Any Questions? Kevin Rooney Traffic Commissioner Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 26