Government appoints acting traffic commissioner for Scotland

Pending the recruitment of a full-time traffic commissioner for Scotland, the transport secretary has made an interim appointment.

Richard Turfitt (pictured below) has been named as the acting traffic commissioner for Scotland, having already been covering the jurisdiction in his current capacity as deputy traffic commissioner for Scotland and senior traffic commissioner since the resignation of the previous traffic commissioner for Scotland. 

He will continue to be supported in this role by deputy traffic commissioners.

His appointment comes as he ends his second four-year term as senior traffic commissioner.

During his time in office as senior traffic commissioner, he has worked through issues emerging from the UK’s departure from the EU, including drafting statutory guidance on the contingency of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) Permits, and provided support during Covid-19. 

Last month, the transport secretary appointed Kevin Rooney as the new senior traffic commissioner, replacing Turfitt from June 1.

Rooney will oversee the work of the traffic commissioners (TCs), who are responsible for regulating the road transport industry across the UK, with specific oversight of public service vehicles, such as buses and coaches, as well as freight operators and drivers.