Highways Agency

Our Roles and Responsibilities

Traditionally, the Highways Agency and our contractors have built and maintained the motorways and the police have provided an operating role, primarily dealing with unplanned incidents like collisions.

Then in 2003, a roles and responsibilities review made recommendations to transfer some of the police’s operational roles over to us.

In April 2004 the Traffic Officer Service was launched in the West Midlands. This has now has been rolled out into seven regions covering 2025 miles of motorways in England from 31 outstations.

Where incidents occur, the police still retain responsibility for investigating any crime, and they will also be in charge at the scene of major incidents on the network.

However, our role is to help coordinate the resources of the other emergency services, manage traffic and reopen roads as soon as the police have finished their investigations, and it is safe to do so.

We work together with our police colleagues at incidents but our role varies depending on the severity of the incident.

Under the Traffic Management Act 2004, we have the power to stop and direct traffic, close lanes and carriageways and manage traffic and it is an offence not to comply with our directions. This means if you fail to follow directions given by a traffic officer or as indicated by our signs you could face a fine of up to £1000 as well as possible driving licence endorsement or even disqualification.

The police still have responsibility for prosecuting criminals. We work together with the police in order to improve safety and reduce casualties.