Ask a Highways England Traffic Officer anything

[BossHogg]

I can't narrow it down to any one factor, there are any number of causes. Gantries are set following reports from the public of debris, pedestrians, RTCs etc. They can only be cancelled by a traffic officer patrol or police patrol once they have driven through the area and cleared it or no traced it.

Edited by BossHogg on Sunday 7th January 20:34

[BossHogg]

Can't help you there I'm afraid, there are no gantries on my patch, or CCTV, or lights!!!

[BossHogg]

yonex said:

Yes, one from from many years driving, including today, where it took as long to get to Folkestone from the Chilterns as it did to complete a journey from Calais to Nancy. The Police used to be on the motorways and offered much more than 'traffic management', you guys are just a way of doing things on the cheap as the budgets have been squeezed. Unfortunately it's the same with CPO's, purely a decision made from financial issues, not sensible ones. Given the restraining bolts you are all fitted with what training is really necessary. Does it go beyond the average skills the average person will have I wonder? On my travels today I did see a womble, trundling along in the slow lane, probably of no help in the massive disaster zone between J8-J9 today? It is my opinion, I think it's a waste of money and a load of bks.

Again, that's your opinion, others will disagree with you.

[BossHogg]

We've also raised it as being unnecessary, we were informed it was to let the traveling public know that traffic was flowing smoothly.

[BossHogg]

No arguments from me.

[BossHogg]

Register1 said:

A very nice part, probably the very best part of the M6.

Probably the most picturesque through the Lune Gorge.

[BossHogg]

Yep, welcome to my office.

[BossHogg]

The Discos and newer Shoguns have DAB radios fitted. Reception is completely none existent in the gorge. We do have airwave, both personal sets and vehicle sets.

[BossHogg]

Are you local, or just pass through regularly?

[BossHogg]

Nope!

[BossHogg]

There have been a few incidents we have come across on patrol where the police have been in attendance and we haven't been informed. However, those incidents are rare, we normally get informed pretty promptly.

[BossHogg]

The cash vans have strict rules, no one is allowed to help them unless the police are on scene. I've stopped with a few with punctures, they hold a pre printed laminated sheet to the glass stating police have been informed and are on the way, recovery are also on the way.

[BossHogg]

Exactly, we can stop safely to deal with breakdowns, debris etc at that speed, any faster and there's a risk of missing incidents.

[BossHogg]

You could always try our national contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

[BossHogg]

You won't find a pothole of that size on a HE motorway, as we call them in immediately and they get temporarily repaired by our contractors as a priority.

[BossHogg]

We don't have that problem on my patch, our stretch is tarmacked.

[BossHogg]

They do, but their bosses aren't as risk averse as ours.

[BossHogg]

surveyor said:

Frustrating. There must be times when the safest thing to do would be to just get on with it, and you have your hands behind your back....

Very, I always try to help the best I can, right up to the point of actually changing it but leaving the motorist to do the actual change.

[BossHogg]

grumpy52 said:

Travel overnight in Spain away from the big cities and you will rarely see ANY traffic unless it's holiday season .
When caught up in a motorway closure in southern France their equivalent of Highways Agency were giving out bottles of water after an hour . Not something I have heard of in this country.

I've been on a full closure where water was handed out by our contractors.

[BossHogg]

I normally report anything bigger than 12"x12" and 4" deep, that could be dangerous for a motorbike. They maybe waiting for the works to be finished before resurfacing, I don't get that far down so I couldn't comment.