Highways Agency Traffic Officers

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Highways Agency Traffic Officers

Formation

20 June 2003

Type

Public body

Legal status

Executive agency

Purpose/focus

Patrol England's motorways and some trunk roads

Location

England

Parent organization Highways Agency

Staff

1,700

Website

http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/601.aspx

The Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service (TOS) is an operational unit within the Highways Agency in England. In April 2004, Highways Agency Traffic Officers (HATOs) began working alongside police on motorways in the West Midlands.[1] The roll out of traffic officers was completed on 18 July 2006 and they now cover all of the motorway network within England, i.e. that which is owned or managed by the Highways Agency[clarification needed], and some of the All-Purpose Trunk Road (APTR) network. They work alongside the policein England to reduce congestion caused by incidents. Overall it was estimated to cost the UK economy 3 billion a year with the closure of one lane estimated at up to 400,000 an hour. The introduction of the officers was aimed to reduce the 25% of delays caused by collisions by around 5%.[1] A similar service exists in Wales, staffed by Welsh Government Traffic Officers.

Contents
[hide]

1 Operations o o o o o 1.1 Patrols 1.2 Vehicles & Equipment 1.3 Communications 1.4 Incident Support Units 1.5 Incidents

2 Powers o o 2.1 Traffic Management Act 2004 2.2 Removal and disposal of vehicles

3 Regional Control Centres (RCC) o o 3.1 Management 3.2 Control Room

4 Locations 5 Ranks and Grades 6 References 7 External links

[edit]Operations [edit]Patrols
Normally, each patrol has a crew of two. Only team managers, or their deputies, may be single crewed - but this severely limits their capabilities. All crew members wear high-visibility jackets, distinctive by the orange and yellow markings, along with dark blue cargo-style trousers. All staff who work on the network are required to wear steel toe cap boots and have access to other protective equipment such as high visibility waterproof trousers, gloves and safety goggles. During the summer months staff are able to wear an open necked white shirt as opposed to the normal collared shirt and tie. All officers carry a portable Airwave radio.

[edit]Vehicles

& Equipment

A typical Highways Agency Traffic Officer vehicle

Traffic Officers patrol the motorway network using high-visibility 4x4 patrol vehicles. Such vehicles are used mainly for their ability to tow, or clear broken-down or disabled vehicles to a place of safety off the carriageway if needed. 4x4 vehicles can remain mobile in flood or snow conditions, as well as being able to carry the large amount of safety and recovery equipment (including a basic first aid kit) that the patrols use. Such vehicles also have the advantage of visibility their size makes them more visible to other motorists when stationary on the hard shoulder. All of the vehicles are liveried with yellow and black Battenburg markings; equipped with a Sepura vehicle mounted TETRA digital radio; hands-free mobile telephone; have the benefit of red and amber LED lightbars and additional LED lights.

A typical Highways Agency Traffic Officer vehicle

When travelling on the hard shoulder, vehicles will use front- and rear-facing amber lighting, and are restricted to 20 mph (HATO procedures). When stationary on hard shoulder, vehicles will illuminate rear-facing amber LEDs. However, when the vehicle is working in the carriageway all the rear-facing lights (amber and red) are displayed to act as a warning to approaching traffic. Traffic Officers, unlike Police, must comply with all speed limits (including temporary mandatory limits in roadworks) currently in force. These procedures differ from Police procedures, where by the police will employ rear-facing `reds' only when stationary on the hard shoulder, to identify a stationary vehicle. Whilst stationary on the hard shoulder and if a Traffic Officer feels it is necessary - due to the weather or location - they may activate the red rear lights, in addition to the amber lights. This will be noted in the Traffic Officer's pocket notebook as a dynamic risk assessment and also relayed to the RCC for entry on to the log.

Each vehicles carries 650 kg (1,400 lb) of equipment which includes traffic cones, basic first-aid kits, warning lights, water containers, road-clearance equipment and towing/recovery gear all contained in a heavy steel bolted-in rack system. They also have variable message signs (VMS) at the rear. The traffic officers use different models of 4x4 vehicles, all diesel powered with automatic transmissions. Vehicles current used for patrolling are: Land Rover Discovery 3, Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Shogun BK. When first introduced into service, the Mitsubishi Shogun was operating above the vehicle maximum plated axle weight. This continued for some time and faced with the option of withdrawing from service, the HA eventually addressed this situation, with the assistance of Mitsubishi, by uprating the rear springs and therefore allowing the vehicles to be operated with the manufacturer's specification again. Previous vehicles used included Mitsubishi Grandis (for Team Managers) Mitsubishi Shogun (CK Model), Nissan Pathfinder and Range Rover. The Pathfinder was discontinued in service once the vehicles had reached the end of their lease for operational reason as the vehicle was considered unsuitable. This was due to the vehicle stance, squat low at the rear, when carrying the HA equipment. This upset the vehicle handling and obstructed the rear vision.[citation needed] Previously HATO vehicles were leased on and 18 month / 150,000 mile contract through Lloyds leasing (which became Lex Leasing in 2009). A new contract was awarded on 8th Feb 2010 to VT (now Babcock) Group for the provision and maintenance of the 207 strong fleet.[2] The lighting equipment is supplied and maintained by Woodway Engineering Ltd, in Coventry, using Whelen LED light bars and auxiliary LED lights. Fitting is done by various conversion companies around the UK.

[edit]Communications
Traffic Officers maintain contact with each other and the Regional Control Centre (RCC) by using Sepura handheld and vehicle TETRARadios, utilising the Airwave network, enabling officers to co-ordinate with other Airwave users (e.g. local Road Traffic Policing officers) Each HATO patrol vehicle is also fitted with a handsfree mobile phone.

[edit]Incident

Support Units

Although liveried similar to the patrol vehicles, Incident Support Units (ISU) are part of the Managing Agent contracts. They work closely with the Traffic Officers in dealing with incidents on the network. For example, they can carry more equipment (in quantity terms), a wider range of kit and deal with certain infrastructure elements that Traffic Officers are not able to work on.

[edit]Incidents

Between 1 December 2007 and 30 November 2008, HATOs patrolled 2,025 miles (3,259 km) of (Highways Agency owned) motorways and selected trunk roads across England, every hour of every day and attended over 281,000 incidents, an average of one incident every two minutes.[3] HATOs attend incidents ranging from breakdowns and road debris to minor Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) releasing the police motorway patrols to concentrate on criminality activities on the motorway network and serious Road Traffic Collisions (RTC's). At serious RTCs, the police take control of the incident and will generally be assisted by HATOs, making use of the Regional Control Centre (RCC) for setting of electronic traffic signs. A "silver" command will be established at the RCC to manage the incident from the Highways Agency's perspective, controlled by a duty operations manager. Other incidents Traffic Officers attend include; Debris in the carriageway, spillages, animals, fires (to support the fire service), pedestrians, vulnerable persons, broken down vehicles (and those broken down in the carriageway) and network defects.

[edit]Powers
In addition to a number of exemptions from the Road Traffic Act and Motorway Regulations (such as stopping on the hard shoulder, driving/reversing on the hard shoulder), Traffic Officers derive powers from the Traffic Management Act 2004 and The Removal and Disposal of Vehicles (Traffic Officers) (England) Regulations 2008.

[edit]Traffic

Management Act 2004

Officers must follow the directions of a police constable,[4] and to exercise their powers, must be on duty and in uniform.[5] For the purposes of:[5]

maintaining or improving the movement of traffic on a relevant road over which the traffic officer has jurisdiction

preventing or reducing the effect of anything causing (or which has the potential to cause) congestion or other disruption to the movement of traffic on such a road,

avoiding danger to persons or other traffic using such a road (or preventing risks of any such danger arising),

preventing damage to, or to anything on or near, such a road,

a traffic officer may:[6]

direct a person driving or propelling a vehicle to stop the vehicle, or to make it proceed in, or keep to, a particular line of traffic,

for the purposes of a traffic survey of any description which is being carried out on or in the vicinity of a road, to direct a person driving or propelling a vehicle to stop the vehicle, or to make it proceed in, or keep to, a particular line of traffic, or to proceed to a particular point on or near the road on which the vehicle is being driven or propelled (subject to the restriction in section 35(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)),

to direct persons on foot (or such persons and other traffic) to stop, to direct a person driving a mechanically propelled vehicle, or riding a cycle, on a road to stop the vehicle or cycle,

to place temporary traffic signs and cones on a road.[7]

Assaulting, resisting or willfully obstructing an officer are offences. [8] It is also an offence to impersonate an officer, or for an officer to claim they enjoy more powers than they do.[8] HA traffic officers do not have any powers of detention; to search, issue fixed penalties or report for summons for any motoring offence. HATO traffic officers are not exempt from any traffic laws and MUST at all times comply with the posted speed limits and red traffic lights. Drivers are obliged by the Traffic Management Act 2004 to comply with the directions given by officers.[9] This is briefly explained in theHighway Code: Highways Agency Traffic Officers have powers to stop vehicles on most motorways and some 'A' class roads, in England only. If HA traffic officers in uniform want to stop your vehicle on safety grounds (e.g. an insecure load) they will, where possible, attract your attention by

flashing amber lights, usually from behind directing you to pull over to the side by pointing and/or using the left indicator

You MUST then pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so. Then switch off your engine. It is an offence not to comply with their directions. Rule 108, Highway Code

[edit]Removal

and disposal of vehicles

Starting in 2009, Traffic Officers now have the powers to directly arrange recovery of abandoned, broken down or damaged vehicles. Previously this facility was arranged through the respective local Police forces but, in accordance with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) transfer of responsibilities, the Highways Agency gained the relevant powers in 2008. The use of recovery powers will be in accordance with strict guidance and instructions.

In October 2008, FMG Support were appointed as the Highways Agency's National Vehicle Recovery Manager (NVRM). The NVRM will act as the Highways Agency's liaison with the recovery operators, who will be appointed to recovery vehicles as instructed. The powers to allow Traffic Officers to remove vehicles are detailed in "The Removal and Disposal of Vehicles (Traffic Officers) (England) Regulations 2008"[10] In circumstances where motorists cannot make suitable private arrangements, Traffic Officers will be able to offer motorists a "facilitated recovery". The NVRM is appointed to arrange recovery of the motorists vehicle. Motorists have two hours to make suitable arrangements. Under Section 99 of the Road Traffic Act 1984, if this time lapses a "statutory removal" can be invoked. Vehicles that are in a dangerous location or causing an obstruction - can also be statutorily removed under Section 99, regardless of how long the vehicle has been in situ. The NVRM will undertake the arrangement of any recovery. There are strict controls about the use of statutory removals.[11]

[edit]Regional

Control Centres (RCC)

There are seven Regional Control Centres located across England. These RCC's form the central management and business support units for the specific Region concerned, as well as the daily operations control rooms.

[edit]Management
Each Region is headed up by a Regional Operations Manager (ROM) and a number of Operations Managers (OM). Each OM has an area of responsibility which may be certain areas of the network and outstations, through to planning and control rooms.

[edit]Control

Room

The control centres answer the orange emergency roadside telephones on the motorway and trunk road network, liaise with breakdown organisations, allocate Traffic Officers to incidents, monitors the CCTV system, control the electronic variable-message signs on the roads and supply information to the NTCC.[12] Some RCCs are jointly staffed by the police.[12]

[edit]Locations

Region

Regional Control Centre

Outstations

West Midlands Quinton

Hilton Park Longbridge (M40, Jct 15) Ansty

Region

Regional Control Centre

Outstations Strensham (M5 Jct 7-8)

South West

Avonmouth

Almondsbury (M5 Jct 16) Chelston (M5 Jct 26) Stanton St Quinton (M4 Jct 17) Pridhamsleigh (A38, Buckfastleigh)

South East

Godstone

Easton Lane (M3 Jct 9) Weatherhill (M23 Jct 8-9) Coldharbour Dartford (and East Region) Heston (and East Region)

East

South Mimms

Whittlesford Toddington Milton Common Chieveley Dartford Heston South Mimms

Felley East Midlands Nottingham Business Park, Nottingham Shepshed Watford Gap

North West

Rob Lane, Newton-le-Willows

Rob Lane (M6 J22 to J23) Lowhurst Millness Samlesbury Milnrow Knutsford

North East

Calder Park, Wakefield

Calder Park Carville Barton Hartshead Moor Sprotbrough

[edit]Ranks

and Grades
Highways Agency epaulettes

Title

Traffic Officer (Control Centre Operator)

Traffic Officer (On-Road)

Team Manager

Operations Manager

Regional Operations Manager

Grade

TM1a

TM1b

TM2

TM3

TM4

From Aug 2009

Pre Aug 2009

The numbers shown are for purposes of illustration only. Each member of staff of the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service bears his or her own individual "HA" shoulder number. From August 2009 the colour and rank system changed following feedback from staff. The new design removed the dual colour/rank system replacing it with a simple and easy to understand design.

Traffic management
The concept of traffic management as applied to the ground transportation industry encompasses a variety of processes, technology, and cooperative ventures, all of which are measures aimed at making more efficient use of existing roads by controlling the volume and speed of traffic. Such measures tackle a number of problems, including road safety and public transport penetration, to list just a few examples. There are several implications from the trend of more and more vehicles traveling the roadways. For one, there is a corresponding rise in greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2 which has been attributed to global ambient air temperature increases. Government policies are being drafted and implemented to address this issue, and one of the means to address the problem is through various traffic management schemes. A second result of increased road traffic is simply more congestion, which translates into wasted fuel, wasted time, and angry motorists. Several studies have been conducted on the effects of increased road traffic, most notably in the US the Urban Mobility Study, conducted annually by the Texas Transportation Institute of Texas A&M University. The Eddington Tranpsort Study provides a look at road congestion and its effects in the UK. One solution to the road congestion problem in urban areas is the imposition of Road User Charges (RUCs). Several metropolitan areas in Europe have begin to impose RUCs, and this concept is expected to gain ground in the larger metropolitan areas of the United States, especially as fuel costs continue to rise. How PwC can help you Traffic management solutions, while imposed by governmental agencies, are increasingly involving private enterprise in the solution. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have been an effective method to implement some of the proposals put forth to handle traffic management challenges. PPPs lend themselves very nicely to supporting traffic management development initiatives, as the sphere of influence for traffic management encompasses both public road infrastructure and private vehicle ownership and control. We offer a comprehensive service: advising on procurement, financial structuring, designing performance payment regimes, tax, accounting and human resource issues. Our reputation as the best PPP adviser in the world is confirmed in the advisor ranking tables ofProject Finance International.

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