1. A view from the Traffic Commissioner
16 November • Barnsley

2. Kevin Rooney
Traffic Commissioner for North East and West of England

3. ”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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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
...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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Traffic Commissioner Strategic Objectives Delivery needs:
Fee reform to allow investment
Recruitment
Legislative change
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12. Traffic Commissioners
From the inquiry room…
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13. 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

14. 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

15. From the (Morpeth) inquiry room…
Traffic Commissioners
From the (Morpeth) inquiry room…
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16. “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?
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17. Traffic Commissioners
“but, really, WHY???”
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18. 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
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19. 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
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20. 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

23. What do these have in common?
Traffic Commissioners
What do these have in common?
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24. Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport
Traffic Commissioners
Championing safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport 24

25. 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

26. Any Questions? Kevin Rooney Traffic Commissioner
Traffic Commissioners
Any Questions?
Kevin Rooney
Traffic Commissioner
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