Jam-busters start today

Traffic officers to help relieve congestion

By PH Staff / Friday, 29 July 2005 / Loading comments

Relieved of traffic management duties

Been held up on the M25? Jam-busters may help in future.

We're told by the Highways Agency that Europe's busiest motorway saw the introduction today of new Highways Agency Traffic Officers, as the south-east became the second English region to go live with the service to ease congestion.

The new uniformed traffic officers have been patrolling motorways in the West Midlands for more than 12 months and now more than 150 of them -- both on-road and control room -- operate around-the-clock.

Working alongside police, the new Highways Agency traffic officers will start patrolling the Surrey sections of the M25 and M3, and the M23 in Sussex. They'll be driving "highly visible vehicles", and be managed from a new regional control centre in Godstone and five out-stations across the region which, including technology, cost £14 million. More will be introduced into Kent and Hampshire next year, covering a total of 255 miles of motorway in the south-east.

The HA said the system will eventually operate around the clock, with powers to take action and a focus on taking whatever steps are necessary -- as soon as possible -- to get traffic flowing. In co-operation with other relevant agencies such as the police roadside assistance and recovery organisations, they'll be able to take actions such ensuring that equipment to carry out essential repairs and remove damaged vehicles is summoned quickly, that local diversion routes are opened up quickly and that timely and accurate information is relayed to motorists about the situation.

The plan is that traffic officers deal with diversions, manage incidents and ensure the roads are running smoothly. They will help the police to manage the traffic after accidents to minimise hold-ups and delays. The police will remain in overall control of dealing with the management and investigation of accidents, and they will continue to be responsible for enforcement of road traffic offences.

The new service will eventually comprise around 1,500 officers -- both on-road and in the control room -- and seven control centres across England. A phased introduction will see traffic officers on motorways in the north-west and north-east in September, east in October, south-west in December and East Midlands in February 2006.

Legal powers

They operate under the Traffic Management Act 2004, which gives traffic officers powers to stop traffic and close roads, lanes and carriageways; direct and divert traffic; place and operate traffic signs; and manage traffic and traffic surveys.

Secondary legislation, expected in 2006, extends these powers to cover the removal or arranging removal of broken down vehicles on the roads. It is an offence and could lead to a fine of up to £1,000, driving licence endorsement or disqualification not to comply with a traffic officers' directions or signs they have placed on the motorway.

Comment

The Government said it was committed to improving the country's road network, tackling congestion and improving management of traffic. Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman, said: "We are investing billions of pounds to improve this country's road network. Minimising the congestion caused by accidents and managing traffic flow efficiently is vital if we are to ensure that traffic runs smoothly for both travellers and businesses.

"The new traffic officers will improve services to motorists - making journeys more reliable and ensuring that time spent in jams is kept to a minimum. By simplifying traffic management responsibilities, the new traffic officers will enable the police to focus their efforts on their core role of tackling crime."

Brian Moore, Deputy Chief Constable, Surrey Police, said: "Today's launch of the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service will free up police resources to focus on core policing activity - tackling crime, dealing with serious collisions and incidents and improving poor driver behaviour on the motorways of the south-east.

"With levels of traffic on the increase and its associated congestion problems, the new alignment of roles will allow both the Highways Agency and the police to focus on core priorities to improve the service we give to the public."