Highways Agency

• Traffic Incident Management Bulletin

November 2007

The Highway Code is the official guide for road users to ensure the roads are used both safely and legally. It was first launched in 1931 when there were as few as 2.3 million motor vehicles in Great Britain yet over 7,000 people were killed each year in motor accidents.

Since its first introduction, the Highway Code has contributed enormously to road safety as the number of vehicles on Great Britain’s roads has steadily increased, the Highway Code has evolved and improved to fit in with the changing conditions. In order to continue this, it is important that all road users continually update their knowledge of the Highway Code.

This article focuses on the new 2007 revision and the key changes relevant to the Highways Agency’s routes.

Highway Code 2007

The updated Code offers information on the latest road safety rules and advice; this is produced to promote better courtesy and understanding between all road users. This is particularly tailored towards those who are deemed ‘vulnerable’ e.g. newly passed/qualified drivers and those driving in adverse weather conditions.

The new edition of the Code has increased in content by approximately 50% which includes 29 more rules. Additionally, many other rules have been increased, rewritten or enhanced to provide greater clarity on what road users should do in different situations.

The Highway Code also includes the new legislation that has been introduced on the following topics:

• vehicle emissions
• smoking in vehicles that are work places
• Traffic Officer powers as detailed in the Traffic Management Act 2004

Further to the legislative changes, the Code also references other initiatives that are currently being used to overcome traffic congestion issues. Examples of these schemes are as follows:

• quiet lanes
• high-occupancy lanes
• home zones
• Active Traffic Management (ATM)

How do the Traffic Officers fit in?

A significant change is the inclusion of the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service. The Code summarises the role of the Traffic Officer Service on the motorway network and certain trunk roads. It also provides advice on the warning lights and signals likely to be employed by incident responders.

In addition to this the Highway Code outlines the powers that Traffic Officers have to stop and direct traffic. Currently the Traffic Officers use this power during incident resolution i.e. rolling road closures. Further to this, the Highway Code refers to the ability of a Traffic Officer to direct an individual vehicle to pull over and stop; when there is a need for an immediate safety intervention due to the condition of the vehicle or load being likely to cause danger to others  e.g. the load is insecure.

The procedure for Traffic Officers stopping individual vehicles on the network is still under development. Once this has been finalised, training will be delivered to the Traffic Officer’s to ensure it is conducted in a safe and controlled manner. Until this is delivered, no Traffic Officer shall carry out vehicle stops. It is important to remember that no-one on the Highways Agency network should carry out an activity they have not been suitably trained to do.

The bulletin will keep you updated on progress with training and when the Traffic Officer Service may start using this aspect of their powers.

Has this article been worthwhile reading? Why not take a moment to send us your comments, thoughts or questions. Please e-mail TIMbulletin@highways.gsi.gov.uk