Timothy Akers

Tim regularly represents Licence Operators at Public Inquiries before the Traffic Commissioners.

Tim is highly regarded for his level of technical expertise in motoring law, and is often instructed to defend in complex road traffic cases on behalf of private clients and insurers. He regularly represents high net worth individuals in road traffic matters and has acted on behalf of premier league footballers, managers of well-known sporting personalities and Managing Directors of global equity firms.

Tim is fully conversant with cases involving:

• Speeding allegations and allegations of failing to identify the driver;
• The use of mobile devices while driving;
• Drink and drug driving (including expert “back calculation” evidence), and failing to provide specimens and samples;
• Dangerous and careless driving;
• Sensitive allegations of causing death by dangerous driving (including expert evidence on collision investigation, where the issue of mechanical defect arises, and where there are multiple defendants);
• Administration of justice offences when linked to driving matters (including perverting the course of justice, and the lesser offences of wasting police time and obstruction);
• Special reasons and exceptional hardship arguments where motorists are at risk of disqualification.

Tim has assisted in advising the Office of Rail Regulation in a s.3 Health and Safety at Work Act prosecution. The remit included advising on the charges (including whether any additional charges pursuant to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Construction (Design and Management Regulations) 2007 should be brought), the prospects of conviction and further evidence required.

Selected Cases

A1 Budget Skips (OTC Public Inquiry)

Represented Operator and Transport Manager. The Traffic Commissioner was persuaded against revoking or suspending the Operator’s licence, instead imposing a curtailment. The curtailment did not materially affect transport operations and allowed a margin of one vehicle in excess of operational requirements.

G & R Removals (OTC Public Inquiry)

Acted on behalf of Operator and Transport Manager. The Traffic Commissioner took minimal regulatory action, revoking a licence that was no longer being used by the Operator and granting a further licence in full that had been applied for. The Transport Manager’s repute was left unblemished.

R v F

Represented a millionaire entrepreneur/manager of a well-known snooker player in proceedings for alleged offences under s.172 Road Traffic Act 1988 (failing to identify the driver).

R v J

Successful submission of no case to answer in proceedings for perverting the course of justice, obstructing a police constable and failing to provide a preliminary sample of breath.

R v T

Represented the Managing Director of a group of chartered financial planners for allegations of speeding in a case that required cross-examination on highly technical evidence in relation to the HADECS (Highways Agency Digital Enforcement Camera System) series speed camera.

R v K

Represented the Senior Managing Director of a global private equity firm for an allegation of speeding that involved cross-examining the reporting officer on his knowledge of the ACPO Guide for the operational use of speed and red-light offence detection technology.

R v D

Represented premier league footballer for allegations of speeding.