Ask a Highways England Traffic Officer anything
Discussion
BossHogg said:
They look at the vehicle stats, what it can tow, what it can carry, internal space for equipment, all that kind of stuff, we've trialled the VW Touareg, BMW X5, Mitsubishi Warrior, Merc Vito. The Vito has been retained as a welfare vehicle.
THere’s also an Outlander PHEV on trial for Dartford duty as the short route is perfect for the PHEV’s electric only range. Never forget the Isuzu Trooper trial vehicle and its leaf springs, or the Nissan Pathfinders and Mitsubishi Grandis from the early days...
Sgt Bilko said:
Grandis - dangerous as the centre of gravity was shifted back with the weight of kit in the boot.
Pathfinder - all noise and no grunt, also rode back heavy
Vito - got some interesting photos of that being used as a remova van
Weren't Vitos trialled only? Were they for supervisors, remember a HATO telling me they weren't approved to tow vehicles off the carriageway.Pathfinder - all noise and no grunt, also rode back heavy
Vito - got some interesting photos of that being used as a remova van
Can't see mention of the shoguns they had. I thought these were run illegally and then up-plated with agreement from Mitsubishi after the springs were upgraded so HATOS could tow over the cars MAMS.
Edited by surveyor_101 on Wednesday 24th January 15:41
surveyor_101 said:
Sgt Bilko said:
Grandis - dangerous as the centre of gravity was shifted back with the weight of kit in the boot.
Pathfinder - all noise and no grunt, also rode back heavy
Vito - got some interesting photos of that being used as a remova van
Weren't Vitos trialled only? Were they for supervisors, remember a HATO telling me they weren't approved to tow vehicles off the carriageway.Pathfinder - all noise and no grunt, also rode back heavy
Vito - got some interesting photos of that being used as a remova van
Can't see mention of the shoguns they had. I thought these were run illegally and then up-plated with agreement from Mitsubishi after the springs were upgraded so HATOS could tow over the cars MAMS.
Edited by surveyor_101 on Wednesday 24th January 15:41
Sgt Bilko said:
It was the early model shoguns that had the spring upgrade. All the others were OK. The Vito didn’t last very long in our office.
The highways spend way to much on Hatos clearly BMW X5 stack up due to the number of police running them.I think HETOs should be scrapped and remember a senior member of area 2 telling me they are just a pr exercise, he was telling me Incident response units cost a fraction and are more useful at incidents.
surveyor_101 said:
I think HETOs should be scrapped and remember a senior member of area 2 telling me they are just a pr exercise, he was telling me Incident response units cost a fraction and are more useful at incidents.
This has been a really good thread. Please don't be a dick and spoil it. surveyor_101 said:
The highways spend way to much on Hatos clearly BMW X5 stack up due to the number of police running them.
I think HETOs should be scrapped and remember a senior member of area 2 telling me they are just a pr exercise, he was telling me Incident response units cost a fraction and are more useful at incidents.
We don't use X5s, after a trial it was decided not to go ahead with them. Incident response units don't exist, we have maintenance contractors who can't enter live lane without the lane being closed first or a rolling road block. Some PR exercise! we've been active for 14 years this year and are receiving more responsibilities and training with every year that passes. I think HETOs should be scrapped and remember a senior member of area 2 telling me they are just a pr exercise, he was telling me Incident response units cost a fraction and are more useful at incidents.
Interesting thread.
I've only read snippets over the last few days so apologies if this has already been asked, but do the patrols have dashcams and if so what make?
Also when stopped on the hard shoulder of a free-flowing motorway, is it appreciated for vehicles in L1 to momentarily move to L2 as they pass to create a sterile lane between you both, before returning to L1 post-scene?
I've only read snippets over the last few days so apologies if this has already been asked, but do the patrols have dashcams and if so what make?
Also when stopped on the hard shoulder of a free-flowing motorway, is it appreciated for vehicles in L1 to momentarily move to L2 as they pass to create a sterile lane between you both, before returning to L1 post-scene?
They don't have dash cams, but have front and rear facing CCTV cameras which are recorded onto a hard drive which is fitted in the car. It is always appreciated when anyone moves out into lane two passed our incidents. I believe it's law in America for vehicles to "slow down, move over" there should be something similar in this country.
BossHogg said:
We don't use X5s, after a trial it was decided not to go ahead with them. Incident response units don't exist, we have maintenance contractors who can't enter live lane without the lane being closed first or a rolling road block. Some PR exercise! we've been active for 14 years this year and are receiving more responsibilities and training with every year that passes.
Do you know why the X5 was not taken forward?Why is the Disco favoured?
BossHogg said:
I'm not sure about the X5, it was something to do with someone complaining about us having high end luxury car for patrolling. The disco is favoured as it has better road presence and a lot more grunt and interior space.
Not sure why they would think a Disco is less poss than a X5, much of a muchness.The shogun seemed to be the less money option.
Dacia Dusters for all but supervisors, I mean how often do you need to tow?
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff