Senior Traffic Commissioner Statutory Document Updates

Vocational Driver Conduct Guidance (Statutory Document 6) and Statutory Document 13

The Senior Traffic Commissioner updated the statutory document on driver conduct (Statutory Document 6).

The changes include:

• mutual recognition of driver disqualification between Great Britain and Republic of Ireland
• the approach to abusive behaviour towards officials
• determining cases when drivers fail to attend without notice
• additional language support for drivers during hearings
• revised entry points with case examples (for instance route planning and bridge strikes)
• increased penalties for mobile phone use
• starting points for military personnel

Many of the statutory documents were updated recently. Read the latest versions here.

Statutory Document 13 is currently going through major revisions. There will be a consultation on the changes and a summary of these are as follows:

• references added to withdrawal from EU
• the requirement for transport managers to exercise continuous and effective management (further to Article 4)
• an updated position on driver employment with reference to recent Upper Tribunal decisions
• references to Upper Tribunal decisions about representations made before a traffic commissioner when deciding whether to disqualify an operator / transport manager
• the inclusion of a decision on distinction between financial standing and financial resources and expansion of ‘available’
• further explanation around applications for periods of grace, including starting points
• an update to serious offence details around community orders and relevant convictions in line with legislative changes
• an expansion on bridge strikes/collisions with infrastructure with reference to Network Rail guidance
• reference to best practice guides including vehicle security, diesel spillages and safety recalls
• guidance on dissolved company rights and restoration to Companies House register