NTDA issues 8000th REACT licence

Four years after hitting 5000 licences and following an almost two-year interruption in training forced by Covid-19 restrictions, the NTDA Roadside Emergency Action Concerning Technicians (REACT) scheme passed the 8000-licence milestone on Monday 28 February  Commercial Tyre Technician Stephen Fritter of Watling Tyre Service Ltd was issued with his certificate and Licence to Work Safely at the Roadside.

Launched in 2011 in response to a number of tragic deaths of commercial tyre technicians at the roadside, REACT has become the leading safety initiative for technicians across the UK. Supported by leading tyre manufacturers, distributors and now as best practice by National Highways, the REACT Licence to Work Safely at the Roadside is, without question, the de facto licence for those technicians responding to roadside tyre incidents across the Strategic Road Network and beyond.

REACT is at the heart of the NTDA’s wider licence portfolio managed under the Tyre Technician Professional Development Scheme and do date, the Association has issued a further 1600 licences to Commercial Tyre Technicians, including specialist licences to Agricultural and Earthmover fitters, and 180 Retail Tyre Technicians working in tyre centres.

The NTDA’s Stefan Hay commented: “It’s fantastic that these important licensing schemes are getting so much support and we are delighted, this year, to have added the Responsible Tyre Repair Technician licence to the portfolio for which we have already started to receive licence applications.

“After eleven years of sustained success, there can be no doubt, that the training, assessment of competency and licensing approach we introduced is now underpinning the Association’s mission to raise standards, improve safety and enhance the professionalism of the hard-working technicians who keep Britain moving under often horrendous weather and traffic conditions and we are certainly looking forward to presenting the REACT Commercial Tyre Technician of the Year Award to yet another ‘Roadside Hero’ in October.”