DfT to recruit 2 new Traffic Commissioners

Date: 28/9/2011

The North-Eastern and South-Eastern Metropolitan Traffic Areas are to benefit from two new Traffic Commissioners.

Current position holders Tom Macartney and Philip Brown are retiring in October of this year and so the Department for Transport (DfT) plans to hire two individuals to replace them.

Until the roles are filled for the long term, Deputy Senior Traffic Commissioner and Traffic Commissioner for the North-Western Traffic Area Beverley Bell will cover the North-East.

Meanwhile, Traffic Commissioner for the Eastern Traffic Area Richard Turfitt will temporarily oversee the South-Eastern and Metropolitan division.

"The Traffic Commissioners provide an essential service as independent regulators and provide a vital contribution to road safety by ensuring only those competent and equipped to be operators and drivers are licensed," explained Roads Minister Mike Penning.

Seven Traffic Commissioners work under the DfT and are in charge of a number of tasks, such as registering local bus services, taking action against PSV and HGV drivers when necessary and granting vocational licences.

However, they remain independent to ensure fairness is preserved when assessing individual licensing cases.

Posted by Mary Treen