HIGHWAYS AGENCY News
Release (HA-67-07) issued by The Government News Network on 29
November 2007
The Highways
Agency today (Thursday, November 29) starts a public consultation
over proposals to allow Traffic Officers to remove broken down or
abandoned vehicles from the strategic road network.
The consultation will last for 12 weeks and the Highways Agency
is inviting drivers and other interested groups to comment on the proposals.
In its consultation document, The Removal, Storage and Disposal
of Vehicles by Traffic Officers and the Secretary of State for
Transport, the Highways Agency is seeking new legislation to
remove certain, abandoned and broken down vehicles from the
strategic road network which includes England's motorways and
major A roads.
Breakdowns on the strategic road network cover only around one to
two percent of all break downs. The powers that would be given to
Traffic Officers would be similar to those already exercised by
the police.
The proposal for the new legislation aims to:
* provide Traffic Officers with similar powers to the police to
request or remove from the strategic road network abandoned and
broken down vehicles causing an obstruction or danger to other
road users.
* provide the Secretary of State with powers to store and dispose
of abandoned vehicles removed by Traffic Officers.
* allow the Secretary of State to recover charges in respect of
vehicles removed, stored or disposed under the regulations.
Derek Turner, the Highways Agency's Director of Traffic
Operations, said,
"Giving Traffic Officers the power to arrange the removal of
vehicles which are abandoned or are causing an obstruction or
danger to other drivers on the network was always planned. These
powers, which would apply at all but the most serious police-led
incidents, are an extension of the work they are already doing
around the clock to improve safety on our motorways. However, we
are keen to hear what everyone else thinks."
The Traffic Officer Service was introduced as a result of the
Traffic Management Act 2004 and the power to remove vehicles is
being sought through a statutory instrument.
Giving Traffic Officers the new powers will help keep
carriageways and hard shoulders clear of vehicles which have been
abandoned or cause obstruction or danger to other road users as
well as keeping traffic moving safely.
The police will retain their powers to remove and dispose of
vehicles but the extension of similar powers to Traffic Officers
will free up police time.
The Highways Agency supports the valued role of motoring clubs
and other suitable private arrangements since these will continue
to provide the vast majority of vehicle removals from carriageways
and hard shoulders.
The Highways Agency has already been talking to the police and
the vehicle recovery industry about the proposals.
Anyone needing more information about the proposals, including
how to make comments during the consultation period, can visit the
dedicated pages on the Highways Agency's website at: http://www.highways.gov.uk/VehicleRecoveryConsultation
Information is also available by emailing
NVRPconsultation@highways.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to Kelly
Luther, Network Operational Policy Team, Woodlands 1st Floor,
Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department
for Transport, which manages, maintains and improves the network
of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary
of State.
2. The consultation document titled "The Removal, Storage
and Disposal of Vehicles by Traffic Officers and the Secretary of
State for Transport" is available from http://www.highways.gov.uk/VehicleRecoveryConsultation.
The deadline for responses is February 21st 2008. For hard copies
please email NVRPconsultation@highways.gsi.gov.uk or contact
Kelly Luther, Network Operational Policy Team, Woodlands 1st
Floor, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW.
3. The Highways Agency and Police undertook a review of their
roles and responsibilities on the strategic road network. This
resulted in the Traffic Officer service beginning in November
2004. The review concluded that certain traffic management
functions could be transferred to the Highways Agency. It was
agreed that the removal of vehicles in certain prescribed
circumstances was a function which in the future, could
predominately be carried out by the Traffic Officers.
4. The strategic road network comprises of most motorways and
major trunk roads (usually referred to as 'A' roads) in
England and are roads for which the Secretary of State for
Transport is the highway authority.
Issued by the Highways Agency. For further information please
contact Ian Bickley on 07711 455088 or the National Press Office
on 0207 081 7443. Out of hours please call the duty press officer
on 0207 081 7443.