Disabled Driver Questionnaire
We want to produce a driver information programme for our disabled customers. To help us produce the best possible guidance, please take a few minutes to fill in our questionnaire.
Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions
Lane Hog!
John Stapleton looks into why people Lane Hog and what effects it has on the driver hogging the lane and other road users.
Educating tomorrow's drivers
See how we are driving through key messages about safety on our network for the drivers of tomorrow.
Meet the Ancestors
Find out about the history of roads and the work the Agency does to preserve archaeological remains.
See when traffic will be lightest
Our traffic forecaster can help get you there quicker
1. Background
1.1 Transport 2010: The 10 Year Plan
The Highways Agency (the Agency) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. The Agency fulfils the Secretary of State's responsibilities for the day-to-day management and operation of the trunk road network which consists of nearly all motorways and the more important A class roads in England.
The Government recognises that traffic noise is a concern for many people and gave a commitment in "A new deal for trunk roads in England" published in July 1998 that "In future, whenever a road needs to be resurfaced, we shall ensure that the most appropriate noise reducing surfaces are used for those areas where noise is a particular concern."
Additionally, in the Government's "Transport 2010: The Ten Year Plan" published in July 2000, the Agency was set the target of installing quieter surfaces on over 60% of the trunk road network, including all concrete stretches by 2010*. Some 5% of the trunk road network is constructed with a concrete surface and to minimise the disruption to the users of the network and ensure the effective use of resources this work needs to be phased in over the 10 year period. Therefore the Agency needed to establish criteria for deciding the priority of some 70 stretches of concrete roads.
*This date refers to the start of the financial year which starts on 1 April 2010 and finishes on 31 March 2011.
