The senior traffic commissioner (TC) has called on drivers, commercial vehicle operators, legal representatives and road safety stakeholders to take part in a review of guidance on the conduct of professional drivers.
Richard Turfitt said the consultation was to ensure HGV drivers, as well as bus and coach drivers, were fit to drive large commercial vehicles. The statutory document, which guides the approach TCs take to regulating drivers, has remained largely unchanged for years.
The TCs previously reviewed their approach to the regulation of vocational driver conduct in 2015. A further review was carried out in 2019, which revised the approach to driver disqualification, abusive behaviour and intimidation of officials, ruling that cases will proceed if a driver fails to attend a hearing without notice and issuing increased penalties for mobile phone use.
The new six-week consultation seeks feedback on proposed revisions and invites views on how the profile of TCs can be raised among the drivers they regulate. The consultation runs until 29 May. For more information click here.
Senior TC Turfitt said: “This consultation is a vital step in ensuring we are regulating vocational drivers in a way which is effective and proportionate to the risk they pose to other road users.”
