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The Highways Agency is an executive agency, part of the Department for Transport in the United Kingdom. It has responsibility for managing the core road network in England. It operates a variety of information services, liaises with other government agencies as well as providing staff to deal with incidents on their roads.
History and operationsThe agency was created by John Major's government on 30 March 1994.[1] The current Chief Executive, Graham Dalton, took up his post on 30 June 2008. Prior to joining the agency he was a Director at the Department for Transport, responsible for the delivery of major rail investment projects including the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and Thameslink. He replaced the previous Chief Executive, Archie Robertson.[2] The Agency is responsible for operating the Strategic Road Network in England which consists of most motorways and the important A roads.[3] It has a length of 6,500 miles (10,461 km) which accounts for 33% of all road travel and 50% of lorry travel[4] The Highways Agency network is split into 14 operational areas,[5] which are managed and maintained by agents, often a joint venture between a civil engineering consultancy and contractor.[specify] In addition, there are some sections of road that are managed by DBFO contracts separate from the area teams, such as the A30 east of Exeter[6] and the M40.[7] This gives a total of 34 operational areas.[citation needed] Area TeamsThe motorway network is divided in to "Areas". They are contracts that are awarded by the Department for Transport. The Area Teams work alongside the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service - providing incident support, emergency traffic management and infrastructure maintenance. They are responsible for the management and operation of the roads in their area [8]. Traffic OfficersIn April 2004, Highways Agency Traffic Officers began working alongside police on motorways in the West Midlands[9]. They work alongside the police in England in an attempt to reduce congestion caused by incidents. Overall it was estimated to cost the UK economy £3billion a year with the closure of one lane estimated at up to £400,000 an hour. The introduction of the officers was aimed to reduce the 25% of delays caused by collisions by around 5%.[9] The roll out of traffic Officers was completed on 18 July 2006 and they now cover the whole of the English motorway network,[10] using high-visibility patrol vehicles.[specify] They are supported by Incident Support Units.[specify] VehiclesHATOs use 4x4 vehicles for patrol duties. Such vehicles are used mainly for their ability to tow, or carriageway clear, broken-down or disabled vehicles to a place of safety if needed. 4x4 vehicles can remain mobile in flood or snow conditions, as well as being able to carry the large amount of safety, first aid, and recovery equipment that the patrols use. Such vehicles also have the advantage of visibility - their size makes them more visible to other motorists when stationary on the hard shoulder. All of the vehicles are liveried with yellow and black battenburg markings. Each vehicles carries traffic cones, first-aid kits, warning lights, water containers, road-clearance equipment and towing/recovery gear - all contained in a bolted-in rack system. They also have roof warning lights and variable message signs at the rear. Normally, each patrol has a crew of two. Occasionally a unit may be single crewed - but this severely limits their capabilities. 
The traffic officers use different 4x4s all diesel powered with automatic transmissions, vehicles currently used include: Previous vehicles used included the Land Rover Range Rover and Nissan Pathfinder. Mitsubishi Grandis are also used in some areas by Team Managers. [11] PowersOfficers must follow the directions of a police constable,[12] and to exercise their powers, must be on duty and in uniform.[13] For the purposes of[14]
a traffic officer may[15]
Assaulting, resisting or willfully obstructing an officer are offences.[17] It is also an offence to impersonate an officer, or for an officer to claim they enjoy more powers than they do.[18] Drivers are obliged by the Traffic Management Act 2004 to comply with the directions given by officers.[19] This is explained in rule 108 of the Highway Code.[20]
Control CentresNationalThe Highways Agency operates the National Traffic Control Centre, which is the information hub of the English strategic road network.[21] The £160m centre is based at Quinton near Birmingham and is responsible for providing accurate, real-time information to the driving public.[21] It collects information from MIDAS electronic loops in the road surface, CCTV cameras[22] and over 250 operational partners including the police and local authorities.[23] It then disseminates this information to the public using 2,500 roadside variable-message signs[24] and the Traffic England website[specify] and the telephone based Highways Agency Information Line (HAIL)[25] as well as distributing information to the media.[22][26] Together with Transport for London it also operates a digital radio station, Traffic Radio, which is available via DAB and the Internet.[27] RegionalTraffic Officers are supported by seven Regional Control Centres across England, some of which are jointly staffed by the police and the Highways Agency.[28] The control centres answer the orange ERTs (emergency roadside telephones) on the motorway and trunk road network,[specify] liaise with breakdown organisations,[specify] allocate Traffic Officers to incidents,[specify] manage and monitor traffic[28] and control the electronic signs on the roads.[28] They also supply information to the National Traffic Control Centre.[28] Regional Control Centres and OutstationsQuinton, West Midlands
Avonmouth, South West
Godstone, South East
South Mimms, East
Nottingham Business Park, East Midlands
Rob Lane, North West
Calder Park, North East
StaffThe Highways Agency employs uniformed Traffic Officers; on-road and control room, as well as specialist staff for work in engineering, surveying, accountancy, and administration. There is a graduate entry scheme, with general entry and specialist engineering entry options.[29] Each team is supervised by a Team Manager, one of between 6 and 8 such managers generally working together, to ensure 24 hour management cover.
Traffic EnglandTraffic England is the Highways Agency brand for traffic information.[30] Currently there are three public channels delivering information on the Highways Agency's road network: a web site at trafficengland.com, a digital radio station, and a telephone service.[31] The Traffic England web site gives you the latest traffic conditions as well as details of any roadworks or events that may cause congestion.[32] By selecting current motorway information you can see the average speed between individual motorway junctions, what is being displayed on all the variable-message signs, and images from traffic cameras.[33] You can also download your own traffic ticker so the latest traffic news appears straight on your own desktop.[34] See also
References
External links
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