Highways Agency Vehicles

[t5grf]

Ok does anyone know what responsibility and powers that these Highways agency bods in 4x4's have that currently seem to plague the A1M/M25, can they issue fixed penalty notices for speeding or other motoring misdemeanors, or is there remit solely to increase Range Rovers sales revenue?

[Lois]

They have no powers for on the spot fines AS OF YET however they can inform the police if they see fit.

[ferrisbueller]

t5grf said:

Ok does anyone know what responsibility and powers that these Highways agency bods in 4x4's have that currently seem to plague the A1M/M25, can they issue fixed penalty notices for speeding or other motoring misdemeanors, or is there remit solely to increase Range Rovers sales revenue?

I believe they sweep up accidents and breakdowns to free up the time of the speed cameras.


Sorry, I meant patrol cars.

[monkeyhanger]

They just hide themselves away causing people to jam on the anchors before they realise it's not Plod lurking.

[Lois]

Oh and they can only travel at 59 mph

[puffpuff]

t5grf said:

Ok does anyone know what responsibility and powers that these Highways agency bods in 4x4's have that currently seem to plague the A1M/M25, can they issue fixed penalty notices for speeding or other motoring misdemeanors, or is there remit solely to increase Range Rovers sales revenue?

They're a sg nuisance because too many unobservant drivers mistake them for police vehicles, slam on the anchors and crawl past - however it does mean the outside lane tends to be free for a mile or two.

[rude-boy]

puffpuff said:

t5grf said: Ok does anyone know what responsibility and powers that these Highways agency bods in 4x4's have that currently seem to plague the A1M/M25, can they issue fixed penalty notices for speeding or other motoring misdemeanors, or is there remit solely to increase Range Rovers sales revenue? They're a sg nuisance because too many unobservant drivers mistake them for police vehicles, slam on the anchors and crawl past - however it does mean the outside lane tends to be free for a mile or two.

Cruise up to where you can read the "Highway Patrol" on the rear bumper and then gas it!

Only problem is that they have caused me to 'cruise' up to the rear of a few real Police Rangies a little faster than I would have done before, fortuantely the POLICE signs are a little larger though.

Don't know what has been going on but i saw 6 of the sods the other day on the A14!

[Yertis]

puffpuff said:

t5grf said: Ok does anyone know what responsibility and powers that these Highways agency bods in 4x4's have that currently seem to plague the A1M/M25, can they issue fixed penalty notices for speeding or other motoring misdemeanors, or is there remit solely to increase Range Rovers sales revenue? They're a sg nuisance because too many unobservant drivers mistake them for police vehicles, slam on the anchors and crawl past - however it does mean the outside lane tends to be free for a mile or two.

It's not a case of being unobservant - if I catch a glimpse of fluorescent yellow hiding on the little raised dias thing I don't wait to fill in the details - can you tell black from blue at a mile?

But I agree they are a total pain. Nevertheless theyt have their job to do, sweeping up the bits.

[neil964]

They seem to be proliferating up and down the country. I went from Hull to Portsmouth and back over the weekend and saw them on the M1 M42 M40. I thought it was plod to start with until I saw the vehicles closer up and you do get plenty of people slowing down behind them causing moblie roadblocks whith is a PITA.

Neil

[puffpuff]

Yertis said:

puffpuff said: t5grf said: Ok does anyone know what responsibility and powers that these Highways agency bods in 4x4's have that currently seem to plague the A1M/M25, can they issue fixed penalty notices for speeding or other motoring misdemeanors, or is there remit solely to increase Range Rovers sales revenue? They're a sg nuisance because too many unobservant drivers mistake them for police vehicles, slam on the anchors and crawl past - however it does mean the outside lane tends to be free for a mile or two. It's not a case of being unobservant - if I catch a glimpse of fluorescent yellow hiding on the little raised dias thing I don't wait to fill in the details - can you tell black from blue at a mile? But I agree they are a total pain. Nevertheless theyt have their job to do, sweeping up the bits.

I disagree. I recently came up against a rolling roadblock of slow moving cars with one of these trundling along in the inside lane. None of the car drivers had spotted it wasn't a police vehicle (even those closest to it) so they all law abidingly drove at 65mph rather than risk passing it.

The queues in lanes one and two totalled over a dozen cars, bunched up and creating a hazard and all because none of them had observed it was black/yellow not blue/yellow.

I haven't yet seen one parked on a police mound, in these parts (M5) they prefer motorway bridges where they're quite easy to spot, colour-wise.

[Lois]

puffpuff said:

I disagree. I recently came up against a rolling roadblock of slow moving cars with one of these trundling along in the inside lane. None of the car drivers had spotted it wasn't a police vehicle (even those closest to it) so they all law abidingly drove at 65mph rather than risk passing it.

tut tut it was doing 65!

[Hollywood Wheels]

Guys,

Give these people a break. They're doing a sometimes difficult and thankless task for a pretty poor wage. It's not their fault that feckwit drivers (such as those i was stuck behind yesterday!) cannot recognize their vehicles and cause bunching at 69.9mph in lane 3....

HW

[Fat Richie]

puffpuff said:

Yertis said: puffpuff said: t5grf said: Ok does anyone know what responsibility and powers that these Highways agency bods in 4x4's have that currently seem to plague the A1M/M25, can they issue fixed penalty notices for speeding or other motoring misdemeanors, or is there remit solely to increase Range Rovers sales revenue? They're a sg nuisance because too many unobservant drivers mistake them for police vehicles, slam on the anchors and crawl past - however it does mean the outside lane tends to be free for a mile or two. It's not a case of being unobservant - if I catch a glimpse of fluorescent yellow hiding on the little raised dias thing I don't wait to fill in the details - can you tell black from blue at a mile? But I agree they are a total pain. Nevertheless theyt have their job to do, sweeping up the bits. I disagree. I recently came up against a rolling roadblock of slow moving cars with one of these trundling along in the inside lane. None of the car drivers had spotted it wasn't a police vehicle (even those closest to it) so they all law abidingly drove at 65mph rather than risk passing it. The queues in lanes one and two totalled over a dozen cars, bunched up and creating a hazard and all because none of them had observed it was black/yellow not blue/yellow. I haven't yet seen one parked on a police mound, in these parts (M5) they prefer motorway bridges where they're quite easy to spot, colour-wise.

Quite a few of them on the M5 twixt Taunton and Exeter, only seen one of them on a police mound so far. Seen them a few times stopped bey broekn down cars - they'll be busy come the summer then!

[justinp1]

Today I saw one of the black chevronned and yellow disco lights patrol 4x4's but on the said was printed:

TRAFFIC OFFICER

So, are these police vehicles, or is the driver a police officer!?

[deeps]

Fat Richie said:

Quite a few of them on the M5 twixt Taunton and Exeter, only seen one of them on a police mound so far. Seen them a few times stopped bey broekn down cars - they'll be busy come the summer then!

They are all over the motorways believe me I see them parked in police lay-bys all the time, waiting for something to do. Agree about the comments of tailbacks caused by drivers who slow for these things!

What I don't understand is, there seems to be three occupants in each vehicle. Why does it need three of them to cone off a broken down car on the hard shoulder??

Also, they park behind the vehicle that has broken down, not like plod or recovery vehicles would - pointing their vehicle and front wheels towards their nearside, but the opposite! I saw three of them today on the hard shoulder with wheels pointing towards the carriageway! Why? If something rear ends them their vehicle will shoot out into traffic.

Any Highways Agency operatives here?

>> Edited by deeps on Thursday 30th March 01:40

[reanimate]

I agree with HW - I think they're doing a great job. And they always seem to be assisting people.
Plus , we get all the benefit of someone patroling and none of the nasty side.
If numpties can't tell the difference, fine by me.

[justinp1]

deeps said:

Fat Richie said: Quite a few of them on the M5 twixt Taunton and Exeter, only seen one of them on a police mound so far. Seen them a few times stopped bey broekn down cars - they'll be busy come the summer then! They are all over the motorways believe me I see them parked in police lay-bys all the time, waiting for something to do. Agree about the comments of tailbacks caused by drivers who slow for these things! What I don't understand is, there seems to be three occupants in each vehicle. Why does it need three of them to cone off a broken down car on the hard shoulder?? Also, they park behind the vehicle that has broken down, not like plod or recovery vehicles would - pointing their vehicle and front wheels towards their nearside, but the opposite! I saw three of them today on the hard shoulder with wheels pointing towards the carriageway! Why? If something rear ends them their vehicle will shoot out into traffic. Any Highways Agency operatives here? >> Edited by deeps on Thursday 30th March 01:40

Considering how the department is growing quite quickly, I would have thought the third guy is being trained by the other two?

[Lois]

justinp1 said:

Today I saw one of the black chevronned and yellow disco lights patrol 4x4's but on the said was printed: TRAFFIC OFFICER So, are these police vehicles, or is the driver a police officer!?

They are Highways Agency Traffic Officers (HATO), not police.

[Lois]

justinp1 said:

[Considering how the department is growing quite quickly, I would have thought the third guy is being trained by the other two?

Yes, there will normally only be 2 fully trained traffic officers on patrol. They will also start covering on nights shortly.

[loaf]

puffpuff said:

t5grf said: Ok does anyone know what responsibility and powers that these Highways agency bods in 4x4's have that currently seem to plague the A1M/M25, can they issue fixed penalty notices for speeding or other motoring misdemeanors, or is there remit solely to increase Range Rovers sales revenue? They're a sg nuisance because too many unobservant drivers mistake them for police vehicles, slam on the anchors and crawl past - however it does mean the outside lane tends to be free for a mile or two.

Whose fault is the 'unobservant' bit then?

In answer to another post by someone else - they have 'TRAFFIC OFFICER' on their windows because that's what they are - Highways Agency Traffic Officers - note it doesn't say TRAFFIC POLICE OFFICER so why the confusion?

I met a couple of these guys yesterday when I stopped to assist at an RTA at j5 M25 - they were polite, professional, knew what they were doing, and got on with the job thereby freeing up the trafpol unit.

You can only speak as you find, of course; I found them to be good people doing a good job.