The Roads We Use

Currently the use of variable speed limits on motorways are under review, after a recent consultation by the Highways Agency to investigate the managed motorway policy implementation for the Birmingham Box, which is sections of the M5, M6 and M42. This is to incorporate variable speed limits with running time on the hard shoulder during peak times, when a mandatory 60MPH upper limit would be in force, reduced during times of poor visibility.  The results of this will be available in the near future.

 

Because this part of the network suffers from extensive congestion during peak times, these roads have to be managed to help try and tackle the problem. This intervention has to be taken by the Government who own the motorways, management is covered by HA which is a department of the DFT.

 

The consultation gave two options, the preferred one above of managed motorways, or option two, widening the road to four lanes and keeping in place a permanent hard shoulder.

 

The costs for option one, at today’s prices is £284.4m,

 

The Highways Agency (HA) own around 1500 cameras on our road network, not easily identified due to the fact that they are not in use for speed enforcement, they are however critical in terms of traffic management. But what are these cameras actually used for.  As drivers, is it relevant, especially if we are driving within the law.

                                                                           

The HA uses ANPR, also known as automatic number plate recognition, to collect data which is used to calculate journey times across the road network which they are responsible for, this includes motorways and major trunk roads, this enables the agency to update their live traffic service available through Traffic England.

The ANPR automatically converts the vehicle registration number through a mathematical process know as hashing into non unique reference numbers known as tagging, this tag is then noted by the roadside cameras. It is not possible to identify each individual number plate, as a collection of vehicles can generate the same tag. The data is transferred approximately every five minutes and up to 14 million tags can be generated in one day. This highlights just how much traffic uses our road network in the UK. To have some of the safest roads in the World with this sort of data is an incredible achievement.

This system does not transmit driver or vehicle images. As the data has no personal information it is not covered under the data protection act, so no restrictions are placed on how long this is held for. There have been previous requests for more information regarding the hash tags however this was shown to have exemption under the freedom of information act.

 

Camera information helps to keep our road network running smoothly, allowing rolling road blocks and traffic diversions to help keep our journey as smooth running as possible. HA vehicles are on the road all day every day.  Since 2004 the officers have been helping the Police with a great support service. Ignoring a direction from a HA officer or their signage can invite fines up to £1000, an endorsement or even disqualification.

 

So how did the role change, after all, many of us remember road traffic control being the responsibility of the Police.  In 1998 the Government’s new deal for transport identified that the highways agency would change their focus to become road network operator, the review which also involved the Police was completed in 2002, it showed there was a strong case for the Police to be relieved of some duties and these could be dealt with by the HA. The transport management bill became the traffic management act in 2004, and along with that came a role change for HA officers.

 

This enables officers to stop and direct traffic and pedestrians, to stop traffic as part of surveys asking for journey details etc, and same powers as the Police under section 67 road traffic regulation act. HA vehicles have been authorised to use amber and red lights since 2004, blue lights are only on vehicles used by the emergency services. HA officers deal with around 850 incidents per day.

 

Although the HA is not a recovery service, the roadside emergency phones are now managed by them, it is more effective to use roadside phones than a mobile as the agency can then identify immediately where you are and in most cases monitor your location with CCTV. They will then inform the appropriate service for your situation. With the hard shoulder being the most dangerous lane on our motorway network, having help at hand and quickly is imperative.

 

As with all DFT departments spending cuts are under way, in the 2012 business plan the vehicles used by the HA are under review, so is also the possibility of single crew officers attending some incidents. The CLEAR initiative will see specific tasks dealt with, currently diesel and oil spills mean lane closures and significant treatment, the issue of oil and diesel spill kits will hopefully address this, so will carriageway clearance, where vehicles, with the aid of new recovery vehicles will enable broken down travellers to be removed from lanes that are in use, more quickly.  VOSA will play a part by helping to deal with repeat HGV breakdowns and incidents from the same operator.

 

The Highways Agency are committed to helping tackle road safety issues on our roads, in 2005 there were 5 fatalities on the highway network which was more than double previous years. AFZ, aiming for zero is the strategy put forward by the HA to eliminate exposure of road side workers to traffic on lanes that are in operation, therefore reducing risk. With the HA working with leading organisations to improve driver behaviour through road works.

 

Part of the efforts to improve safety through road works and lane closures will include, speed detection measures, thought to be SPECS, possibly the use of a National Blanket Order during overnight works and short term closures.  To produce driver influencing tools to enable effective training, influencing and briefing sessions to take place.

 

So with all agencies tightening their belt, road safety is still a priority, good news for everyone who works within this environment, could we be doing more to help. It’s not just about obeying speed limits, it’s the general protection of the working area and potential mistakes of other road users, after all, how much road work traffic flow training takes place amongst new drivers, or even the experienced ones.

 

Road works and lane closures often ignite frustration and impatience, after all that is human nature, particularly amongst those who have left too late and are now racing against the clock. Average speed cameras or remote policing, can monitor and slow down the drivers who want to protect their licence and possibly their career, but could we help put out a more informed message as to the risk taken by those who work hard at keeping our network moving even if sometimes, it does feel slow.

 

Anne Green BA Dip DI

Dip NLP Dip LC