Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Better Information - Giving You Better Information For Your Journey

What's in it for me?

You can now get accurate, real-time information on traffic conditions direct from the Highways Agency, the people who build, manage and maintain England's 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of motorways and trunk roads. Better information will help you plan your journey and make decisions both before you set off and when you're on your way.

What information can you give me and where can I get it?

Website

Plan your journey better by finding out about traffic conditions and roadworks along your route.

Telephone Services

08700 660115

A new automated telephone service giving you accurate and up to date information about the roads on our network, is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (Calls charged at national rate.)

Remember: Drivers must comply with legislation on the use of mobile phones. Switch off before you drive off.

Variable Message Signs (VMS)

Get information when you're on the move. More than 350 information VMS located at key decision points on the network (ie before major junctions) give the opportunity to change your route if there's a problem on the road further ahead. An additional 1,400 safety VMS are used to manage traffic locally in the event of incidents and emergencies and to provide warnings of standing and slow moving traffic to protect the back of queues.

Traffic and Travel news broadcasts

Get the latest up-to-date traffic and travel information. For a number of years we have been providing real-time information 24 hours a day to radio and TV stations and other media.

Where does the information come from?

Through a private finance initiative contract, the Highways Agency has employed TiS (Traffic Information Services) to collect and publish strategic traffic information on its behalf. TiS has a network of electronic monitoring equipment right across the motorways and trunk roads in England. In addition, TiS collects information from people on the roads (including Highways Agency Traffic Officers) and from other organisations who have an interest in traffic conditions (the Police, local highways authorities, leisure and entertainment venues and weather centres). TiS also works closely with the Highways Agency's network of Regional Control Centres to share information.

Can I trust the information?

Yes. Every effort is made to validate information before it is made available to road users through our information services. We continue to monitor events in real time and regularly update the information as road conditions change.

Breaking News - Road information on the move

A terminal displaying the latest local and national Motorway information is being installed at a Motorway Service Area. This is a trial. If successful, terminals could be made available at other Motorway Service Areas and other strategic locations.

Visit Hopwood Park Motorway Service Area, Junction 2, M42 to try the service for yourself. Your feedback is welcome.

For traffic and travel information

• 08700 660115 (Calls charged at national rate.)
• Online traffic information
• SCOTLAND: http://www.trafficscotland.org/
• WALES: http://www.traffic-wales.com/

The Highways Agency Information Line:

• 0300 123 5000 (Calls are charged at the same rate as local calls)

For information about other travel modes visit:

• www.direct.gov.uk/TravelAndTransport/fs/en

For wider motoring advice, visit Directgov:

• www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/fs/en
• Download a PDF version of this leaflet (290KB PDF).