Steve is Director of the RAC Foundation, an independent charitable think-tank that commissions and disseminates research relating to motoring and roads issues. Recent reports have covered topics as varied as road crash investigation, the take up of electric vehicles, mobile telephone signal coverage across the road network, driving as an employment qualification, and the condition of the nation’s road bridge stock.
Steve took over at the Foundation in May 2015 after a civil service career encompassing many transport-related roles, latterly as Director General for Roads, Traffic & Local at the Department for Transport, where his responsibilities included developing the first Roads Investment Strategy, the Transport Strategy for the North, administering funding for local government, policy on road safety, and the running of the motoring services agencies.
Prior to becoming a Director General, Steve was Roads Director and before that worked at the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Cabinet Office.
After graduating from Durham University Steve joined the civil service in 1983, moving to the Department of Transport in 1987 where, amongst other roles, he was private secretary to transport ministers Peter Bottomley, Michael Portillo and Roger Freeman.
Steve is a fellow of the CIHT, vice-president of the CILT and a trustee of the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund.