Watch out for HATO's!
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North West driver convicted
08 May 2007: For the first time a conviction has been secured against a driver who ignored the directions of Traffic Officers.
A complaint by Highways Agency Traffic Officers has resulted in the first motorist in the North West region being prosecuted.
The man, who appeared in Tameside magistrates' court in March, admitted to driving beneath intermittent red crosses signifying a lane closure on the road ahead.
At around 20:20 on November 9th he was travelling clockwise on the M60 near Junction 22, between Oldham and Ashton, where a Traffic Officer patrol was carrying out a rolling road block to allow contractors to safely cone off the outside lane for roadworks.
Staff stationed at the Agency's North West Regional Control Centre at Newton-le-Willows had set a number of signs above the lane cautioning drivers to switch lanes and reduce their speed, which were combined with the red crosses warning road users of the lane closure ahead.
The driver in question ignored these, resulting in his actions being reported by the Traffic Officers to the Greater Manchester Police.
In March the magistrate fined the driver GBP60 and added three penalty points to his licence.
Dave Ryder, Network Operations Manager for the North West Traffic Office service, said: "This case will raise awareness of the powers of Highways Agency Traffic Officers and hopefully strongly influence drivers to observe the directions given by them when engaged in the direction of traffic and in the management of incidents."
He explained that Traffic Officers' duties include the setting of signs or signals, managing closures and directing traffic in order to ensure the safety of the public, contractors working on the roads and the officers themselves.
"Drivers therefore need to understand they run the risk of prosecution, which includes the imposition of penalty points on their licence, which could lead to a driving ban, should they fail to heed signs and or Traffic Officers' instructions," he continued.
Meanwhile, Arthur Ashburner, Director of Traffic Operations North, which runs the North West Traffic Officer service, commented: "In 2005 five roadworkers lost their lives on England's major roads.
"All were caused through operatives being struck by third party vehicles. We also had 12 major injuries and a further 29 injuries causing absence from work for more than three days.
He said that they remained "totally committed" to protecting all personnel carrying out repairs, effecting improvements or dealing with incidents on the region's major roads.
"Their work is vital to keep the motorways open and traffic moving but they cannot do that unless they are confident they can do so in a safe environment," Mr Ashburner continued.
"They should not have to live in fear of drivers ignoring road signs."
The North West Traffic Officer service reached full strength in the summer of 2006 and has 200 officers patrolling the region's motorways, with up to 19 two-person patrols per shift operational around the clock.
08 May 2007: For the first time a conviction has been secured against a driver who ignored the directions of Traffic Officers.
A complaint by Highways Agency Traffic Officers has resulted in the first motorist in the North West region being prosecuted.
The man, who appeared in Tameside magistrates' court in March, admitted to driving beneath intermittent red crosses signifying a lane closure on the road ahead.
At around 20:20 on November 9th he was travelling clockwise on the M60 near Junction 22, between Oldham and Ashton, where a Traffic Officer patrol was carrying out a rolling road block to allow contractors to safely cone off the outside lane for roadworks.
Staff stationed at the Agency's North West Regional Control Centre at Newton-le-Willows had set a number of signs above the lane cautioning drivers to switch lanes and reduce their speed, which were combined with the red crosses warning road users of the lane closure ahead.
The driver in question ignored these, resulting in his actions being reported by the Traffic Officers to the Greater Manchester Police.
In March the magistrate fined the driver GBP60 and added three penalty points to his licence.
Dave Ryder, Network Operations Manager for the North West Traffic Office service, said: "This case will raise awareness of the powers of Highways Agency Traffic Officers and hopefully strongly influence drivers to observe the directions given by them when engaged in the direction of traffic and in the management of incidents."
He explained that Traffic Officers' duties include the setting of signs or signals, managing closures and directing traffic in order to ensure the safety of the public, contractors working on the roads and the officers themselves.
"Drivers therefore need to understand they run the risk of prosecution, which includes the imposition of penalty points on their licence, which could lead to a driving ban, should they fail to heed signs and or Traffic Officers' instructions," he continued.
Meanwhile, Arthur Ashburner, Director of Traffic Operations North, which runs the North West Traffic Officer service, commented: "In 2005 five roadworkers lost their lives on England's major roads.
"All were caused through operatives being struck by third party vehicles. We also had 12 major injuries and a further 29 injuries causing absence from work for more than three days.
He said that they remained "totally committed" to protecting all personnel carrying out repairs, effecting improvements or dealing with incidents on the region's major roads.
"Their work is vital to keep the motorways open and traffic moving but they cannot do that unless they are confident they can do so in a safe environment," Mr Ashburner continued.
"They should not have to live in fear of drivers ignoring road signs."
The North West Traffic Officer service reached full strength in the summer of 2006 and has 200 officers patrolling the region's motorways, with up to 19 two-person patrols per shift operational around the clock.
Good stuff.
j500ant said:
Presumably they did this in the same way that anyone else could, ie make a complaint about someones driving.
Looks like it, but i expect with multiple statements and evidence from the control room there probably wasn't much going in favour of the driver.
Edited by Sgt Bilko on Tuesday 8th May 17:44
DucatiGary said:
whatch out, they will be pulling you for speeding next, along with tire checks and the usual smack of arrogance a shopping centre security guard gets when he's been promoted head of security in a 13 shop precinct.
You sound like have a chip on your shoulder about them? I think they do a good job and if tey help traffic move more smoothly then gr8
SpudGunner said:
DucatiGary said:
whatch out, they will be pulling you for speeding next, along with tire checks and the usual smack of arrogance a shopping centre security guard gets when he's been promoted head of security in a 13 shop precinct.
You sound like have a chip on your shoulder about them? I think they do a good job and if tey help traffic move more smoothly then gr8
I agree
DucatiGary said:
whatch out, they will be pulling you for speeding next, along with tire checks and the usual smack of arrogance a shopping centre security guard gets when he's been promoted head of security in a 13 shop precinct.
Quite....
In this case though they were trying to protect a crew putting on a lane closure.
SpudGunner said:
DucatiGary said:
whatch out, they will be pulling you for speeding next, along with tire checks and the usual smack of arrogance a shopping centre security guard gets when he's been promoted head of security in a 13 shop precinct.
You sound like have a chip on your shoulder about them? I think they do a good job and if tey help traffic move more smoothly then gr8
Like when they park on the "Police Only" ramps on the M/Way?
vonhosen said:
hedders said:
I'd be interested to hear more details on this. I thought that when you saw the red crosses over a lane it was a warning that the lane was closed ahead, not get off the lane immediately!
You must not pass the sign, in that lane.
Normally before the red cross which means do not go through you would see two or three green arrows on the gantry before that one telling you to move over.
hedders said:
I'd be interested to hear more details on this. I thought that when you saw the red crosses over a lane it was a warning that the lane was closed ahead, not get off the lane immediately!
[rant]
Not aimed at you directly, but does no one read the friggin Highway Code anymore?
There should be Police checkpoints where they ask drivers HC questions and if you can't get say 8 out of 10, they take your car and crush it![/rant]
Vaux said:
hedders said:
I'd be interested to hear more details on this. I thought that when you saw the red crosses over a lane it was a warning that the lane was closed ahead, not get off the lane immediately!
[rant]
Not aimed at you directly, but does no one read the friggin Highway Code anymore?
No offence taken anyway, but i have not seen a copy of the HC since the 80's.
hedders said:
Vaux said:
hedders said:
I'd be interested to hear more details on this. I thought that when you saw the red crosses over a lane it was a warning that the lane was closed ahead, not get off the lane immediately!
[rant]
Not aimed at you directly, but does no one read the friggin Highway Code anymore?
No offence taken anyway, but i have not seen a copy of the HC since the 80's.
Let me help you on that one www.highwaycode.gov.uk/signs_index.htm
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