Highways Agency

• Traffic Incident Management Bulletin

May 2008

During the management of an incident a vast array of roles need to be conducted both at the incident scene and away from it. The Bulletin often features the operations being conducted at the incident scene(s), i.e. responders demonstrating/using their specialist equipment, skills or techniques. However in this article we look at some of the work which is conducted away from the incident scene and focus on the National Traffic Control Centre (NTCC).

The article will discuss the following aspects of the NTCC. 

• Role of the NTCC
• Assisting in incident management
• Services offered by the NTCC
• Project Outreach

National Traffic Control Centre

The NTCC is the hub of the English motorway network and one of the key ways in which the Highways Agency is delivering its aims of  "safe roads, reliable journeys and informed travellers."

The main objectives of the NTCC are:

• Providing accurate real-time traffic information to the public using a number of different methods
• Minimising the congestion caused by incidents, roadworks and events taking place near the motorway and trunk road network
• Providing information on diversions to help motorists avoid the queues

In order to achieve these objectives, the NTCC collects traffic data from CCTV cameras and on-road sensors. This is used together with the information supplied by Traffic Officers, Police Forces, Local Highway Authorities, Service Providers etc. This information is then processed, analysed and disseminated to the public in a number of different ways.

Assisting in incident management

When an incident occurs on the network, the NTCC’s operational database takes into account all the information provided to them by their operational partners. This information is likely to cover the following:

• Nature of the event/incident
• Expected duration before ‘normal’ conditions will return
• The ‘normal’ profiled flow for that section of the network on that day – as established in the previous six week period/or on that individual day historically

Using this information the system assesses the best option(s) for informing motorists travelling on the network. This is used to attempt to direct traffic away from the problem, minimising disruption to motorists journeys.

Based on the time it will take before drivers reach the incident and by assessing the direction they are travelling, the system selects the most appropriate Variable Message Signs (VMS) to use, particularly as they approach strategic points on the network. As the incident progresses and the duration to normal conditions begins to reduce, the geographical extent of the signage will be reduced.

In addition to the above, the NTCC also focuses on disseminating the 'correct message'. As soon as an event/incident is created in the NTCC system, key traffic messages are automatically disseminated to the wider community and to their services. Please read below for further information on the NTCC services. 

Included within the wider community are a host of key information distributors. This includes the travel news media network who receive traffic information instantaneously. Depending on the severity of the information received, the media will take the appropriate steps to disseminate the key messages to the public.

Further services offered by the NTCC

The information disseminated by the NTCC comes in many different formats. Detailed below are a selection of the methods used.

Traffic England

Website and automated telephone service providing the public with real-time traffic information, which also includes planned events on the network.

To visit the Traffic England site, please follow the link, alternatively you can contact them by calling 08700 660 115.

Traffic England Website

Really Simple Syndicated Feeds (RSS)

The NTCC enables you to bring headline traffic information/alerts to your computer desktop. It can be formatted as either a scrolling desktop news ticker, pop-up balloons or a dedicated news reading application and provides you with the latest traffic information for the motorways and major 'A' road network.

Atlas Pro

Real-time traffic information for professionals, designed specifically for businesses and their requirements. The system is frequently used by Incident Commanders to view the following information:

• Current incidents
• Planned events
• Electronic signs and their current settings
• Current average speeds on individual sections of the motorway

For further information on Atlas Pro, please follow the link.

Traffic Management for your event

The NTCC can provide the following services to help when planning a significant event to minimise event related congestion.

• Assist in the production of your traffic management plan
• Use electronic road side message signs to advise of upcoming major events
• Provide information on other planned events in specific areas
• Provide information on incidents near your venue

This is used when significant events are held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.

Traffic Radio

Supplies traffic information direct to the public via either the internet or DAB digital radio. Please follow the link for an earlier Bulletin article on Traffic Radio.

Highways Agency Information Line

The NTCC contains a host of professional advisors that supply information relating to the Highways Agency business 24/7, 365 days a year.

The telephone number for this service is 08457 50 40 30.

Travel News Partners

The NTCC has established a wide community who receive real-time traffic information updates instantly. This information is then issued through a variety of different media to enable motorists to alter their journeys to suit and divert away from any traffic congestion.

There are a number of other systems offered by the NTCC which includes some bespoke packages that have been created directly for certain business' requirements. For information about these, please contact the NTCC by e-mailing outreach@highways.gsi.gov.uk.

Project Outreach

Project Outreach targets businesses that have a significant number of vehicles on the road, or that cause a number of vehicles to be on the road, such as visitor attractions. By providing real time traffic information services, they aim to influence businesses by adjusting their journeys according to network conditions.

Over the past 18 months Project Outreach has established working partnerships with over 300 businesses. In some instances organisations use the information to make decisions for their logistics operations or to advise customers, visitors or employees of congestion on the network that may affect their journey.

The Partnership Engagement Team are responsible for Project Outreach. For further information contact at: outreach@highways.gsi.gov.uk.

How has the NTCC assisted you? Do you have any interesting experiences of using traffic information supplied by the NTCC? If so, why not take a moment to send us your comments, thoughts or questions. Please e-mail TIMbulletin@highways.gsi.gov.uk.