Traffic Officers
Discussion
)duggan said:
And what getsme is when they park on said hard sholder, thier wheels are pointing out towards the motorway - one shut & thier car goes over three lanes - why don't they follow the AA/RAC and have them pointing to the verge (Drives my girlfriend mad when I rant about this!)
And you really think that a car, or even worse a truck, going into the back of it at motorway speed is going to worry about where the wheels are pointing, they have no effect, trust me, i see it all the time (well not all the time, that would be crazy!)
As for the RAC/AA, it does make the advertising easier to read for oncoming traffic!
I think they are doing a great job, people can hardly blame them is they have to jump on the brakes cause they think they are the police (they are different colours anyway, even the light bars!)
Traffic Management Act 2004
Part 1 of the Act empowers the Secretary of State for Transport, as the traffic authority for trunk roads in England, to establish a uniformed on road Traffic Officer service to manage the traffic consequences of random incidents such as breakdowns, obstructions, debris and accidents on the strategic road network (which comprises of the majority of motorways and all-purpose trunk roads in England). Traffic Officers will have special constabulary-type powers to stop and direct traffic and place and operate traffic signs. The Traffic Officer started working alongside the police in April 2004 and took on their full role with powers towards the end of that year
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Part 1 of the Act empowers the Secretary of State for Transport, as the traffic authority for trunk roads in England, to establish a uniformed on road Traffic Officer service to manage the traffic consequences of random incidents such as breakdowns, obstructions, debris and accidents on the strategic road network (which comprises of the majority of motorways and all-purpose trunk roads in England). Traffic Officers will have special constabulary-type powers to stop and direct traffic and place and operate traffic signs. The Traffic Officer started working alongside the police in April 2004 and took on their full role with powers towards the end of that year
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Was a bit cynical about this lot too until I was on the M25 last night.
About a mile before the M40 junction clockwise, a trafpol came flying up the hardshoulder. Traffic was crawling (as usual) at about 30mph. Two or 3 cars ahead of me the trafpol pulled out into the middle lane and came to a halt. We all stopped behind. Triffic I thought. After a minute of being stationary I opened the window and peered out. An old 405 had spluttered to a halt in the outside lane, blocking it completely. A HATO 4x4 came off the hardshoulder and into the outside lane. Two chaps attached a towrope to the 405 and the 4x4 driver pulled it across to the inside. The lights went out on the police car and off we went. No more than 3 minutes stationary. The traffic car gets to carry on patrolling as it should while the HATO's sort out the stranded motorist. Nice job.
I;m sure though as with any organisation there are a few muppets. Those who like to pretend to be cops, parking on bridges and those raised platforms at the side of the motorway.
About a mile before the M40 junction clockwise, a trafpol came flying up the hardshoulder. Traffic was crawling (as usual) at about 30mph. Two or 3 cars ahead of me the trafpol pulled out into the middle lane and came to a halt. We all stopped behind. Triffic I thought. After a minute of being stationary I opened the window and peered out. An old 405 had spluttered to a halt in the outside lane, blocking it completely. A HATO 4x4 came off the hardshoulder and into the outside lane. Two chaps attached a towrope to the 405 and the 4x4 driver pulled it across to the inside. The lights went out on the police car and off we went. No more than 3 minutes stationary. The traffic car gets to carry on patrolling as it should while the HATO's sort out the stranded motorist. Nice job.
I;m sure though as with any organisation there are a few muppets. Those who like to pretend to be cops, parking on bridges and those raised platforms at the side of the motorway.
duggan said:
And what getsme is when they park on said hard sholder, thier wheels are pointing out towards the motorway - one shut & thier car goes over three lanes - why don't they follow the AA/RAC and have them pointing to the verge (Drives my girlfriend mad when I rant about this!)
That is what they are taught - as are traffic police certainly in the Met at any rate. As has been mentioned, it is believed the position of the wheels would normally have little effect, but when it does if they are pointing straight on or at the barrier all that happens is the vehicle goes forwards and into / over the officers or motorist on the hard shoulder!
The idea behind pointing them at the main carriageway is that the car has somewhere to go ..... i.e. the main carriageway as opposed to almost certainly killing someone. At least on the main bit people have a chance to swerve or even better, they may not actually be in the 'wrong' place when it happens.
There is no ideal solution - it is just the best of a bad bunch .....
dougc said:
I;m sure though as with any organisation there are a few muppets. Those who like to pretend to be cops, parking on bridges and those raised platforms at the side of the motorway.
There could be all sorts of reasons why they're parked up. they could be "being available" to assist if required, with something similar to what you mentioned, they could even be on their break, (they haven't to stray far from the m/way)or quite simply just waiting in the "right place, at the right time" for the inevitable problem that will occure in that area around that time.
It's most definately not "to look like police"
(and I'm not going through the reasons why the vehicles are 4x4's and marked up in battenburg markings AGAIN!!!!)
Edited by gafferjim on Friday 1st September 21:12
Dwight Vandriver said:
Traffic Management Act 2004
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As is the norm is SS GB these days the act also allows President Blair to give them any powers he sees fit at the click of his finger without having to bother with inconvenicies such as getting parliment to agree. So it would take about 30secs to allow them to stop you for speeding or any other offence in the future.
shuvitupya said:
I always drive past the HATO gestapo in excess of the speed limit to make my point that they are are worthless scum that cannot touch me 
Why are they Gestapo?? worthless scum??
They can't 'do' you for anything, they have no more powers that way than anyone on this board. The only thing they can do is to report you should you go through one of their rolling blocks, or ignore their directions when traffic managing, and even then it's reported to the Police, and they 'do' you.
You obviously don't know what you're talking about, and are just generalising because you feel that they are an authority figure.
Every HATO vehicle I see on the M180 / M181 / M62 / M18 / M1 is parked on the hard shoulder with wheels pointing towards the traffic. Also when they are doing 50 on the M Way people presume they are police and will not overtake causing massive tailbacks and dodgy manouveres.
Otherwise I think they are doing a pretty good job, coppers don't want to be assisting people changing tires or whathaveyou.
Otherwise I think they are doing a pretty good job, coppers don't want to be assisting people changing tires or whathaveyou.
thinfourth said:
If they wanted them to be really useful they would be towing a nice trailer behind them so they can do a snatch and grab of anyone stuck on the hard shoulder
Then you would have Towman spitting his dummy out!!!!!
That's the job of the recovery service or duty garage. The Hato will only tow the vehicle to a safer location (please note *SAFER* not SAFE) should it be thought to be in an unsafe location. then it's up to whatever recovery is required.
john57 said:
That is what they are taught - as are traffic police certainly in the Met at any rate. As has been mentioned, it is believed the position of the wheels would normally have little effect, but when it does if they are pointing straight on or at the barrier all that happens is the vehicle goes forwards and into / over the officers or motorist on the hard shoulder!
The idea behind pointing them at the main carriageway is that the car has somewhere to go ..... i.e. the main carriageway as opposed to almost certainly killing someone. At least on the main bit people have a chance to swerve or even better, they may not actually be in the 'wrong' place when it happens.
There is no ideal solution - it is just the best of a bad bunch .....
The idea behind pointing them at the main carriageway is that the car has somewhere to go ..... i.e. the main carriageway as opposed to almost certainly killing someone. At least on the main bit people have a chance to swerve or even better, they may not actually be in the 'wrong' place when it happens.
There is no ideal solution - it is just the best of a bad bunch .....
In that case isn't it time soemone told the AA/RAC who appear to be doing the old fashioned way still??
trooperiziz said:
Anybody who will park their well lit car behind you on the hard-shoulder, make sure you are ok, stay with you for 2 hours in the pissing rain, lend you a rain jacket and help the recovery guy when he turns up, gets a double thumbs up from me!
And does it for £16K a year. You wouldn't catch me working on the motorway for that kind of money - far too dangerous.
You don't realise how dangerous motorway working is until you've stood at the side of the M25 watching 70MPH nose to tail traffic thundering past (and it does bloody thunder past) on six lanes. Not an experience I care to repeat any time soon.
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