THE Island's longest serving traffic policeman will retire from the force today.

PC Duncan Livingstone, 49, has completed more than 30 years in the service, having first joined as a police cadet after completing his O levels.

Two years later, he joined the police as a probationary constable in November 1979.

Following initial training he was stationed in Douglas for three and a half years then served a two year attachment at the (then) Port Unit.

He notched up one more year in Douglas followed by six in Ramsey before he joined the then Traffic Department in 1992.

Currently responsible for Police driver training in what is now the Roads Policing Unit (RPU), PC Livingstone also holds a City and Guilds qualification in forensic collision investigation, enabling him to give evidence in court as an expert witness on serious collisions.

He said: "I am the only officer from the Island fortunate enough to have completed the advanced car instructor's course, with Lancashire Constabulary.

"I attended that course in 1997.  I initially provided all the driver training for the Constabulary, and in 2002 trained another officer to instructor level.

"Since then the two of us have delivered all driver training for the Isle of Man Constabulary. All officers have to complete a two week-long course that qualifies them to drive police vehicles in an emergency, using the 'blues and twos' – blue lights and two tone siren.

"Knowing I was coming up to retirement, I have also qualified with the Department of Infrastructure as an approved  driving instructor.

"After a holiday my plan is to expand my private driving school.  First though, I have one last two week driving course to finish for the latest batch of new constables."

Deputy Chief Constable Gary Roberts said: "The Constabulary will be sorry to see Duncan depart. He is one of the fiercely dedicated, quietly efficient and thoroughly professional individuals who make up our small, but successful Roads Policing Unit.

"He has committed much of his working life to improving the safety of our roads and to enhancing our ability to investigate serious and fatal collisions.

"We have made many improvements in recent years and he has played a considerable part in this work. All of his colleagues wish him well."

In his 18 years' roads policing service, PC Livingstone has wide experience of all traffic matters, including numerous TTs and riding police motorcycle escorts for visiting dignitaries.

He added: "One of the things I’ve really enjoyed has been acting as a security escort rider for visiting dignitaries including most of the members of the Royal Family at different times.

"Also, the King of Norway.  It was a much more enjoyable part of my duties than some of the serious and fatal collisions I have been involved in investigating.

"My busiest period was probably my second TT in the Traffic Department, in 1993, because during two weeks we had 13 fatalities on open roads.

"In the last few years there have been one or two each year generally, and none at all in one memorable year.

"The problem with motorcycle collisions is that the rider is very vulnerable, and if you hit something then you are going to sustain much more serious injuries than someone in a car.

"The difference between damage only and fatality collisions for motorcyclists can be how or where you land.

"‘In 1993 there were 11 people in the police traffic department. The TT course was our main focus and those 11 officers provided roads policing capabilities.

"This year, as in recent years, the RPU was more than doubled, with 26 officers attached, and that means we have a much more visible presence on the roads during the whole of the TT festival.

"The joint road safety campaigns with the government (currently with the Department of Infrastructure and the Department of Home Affairs) have been responsible for the improvement during TT.

"I believe, however, the biggest impact has been the way the TT is policed and having the one way system over the mountain for the duration of the TT fortnight."

Another change during the last few years has been the partnership between the Isle of Man Constabulary and the Institute of Advanced Motorists working together to try and improve driving standards on the roads, and particularly encouraging younger drivers to try and improve their driving skills.

This has entailed all current members of the RPU qualifying as examiners for the Institute.