Merseyside Police has praised the response of the Highways Agency's new Traffic Officer Service which marked a year of activities at the end of last month (April).
New Highways Agency figures show control room staff and patrols dealt with more than 1,200 serious incidents in their first year on Merseyside motorways.
Highways Agency Traffic Officers have been introduced across England to tackle congestion-causing incidents quickly and free up police time so they can concentrate on motorway crime.
And their performance in their first year on Merseyside's motorway network has now been praised by the area's police.
Inspector Dave Corcoran, of Merseyside Police's Roads Policing Department, said: "The Highways Agency's Traffic Officer Service has brought real benefits for users of our motorways - and working in partnership with police patrols across the region is helping to make the road network safer.
"The past 12 months has been a great success for this partnership and I look forward to even greater benefits in the coming year. Our combined experiences of the Open Golf in 2006 and our joint response to incidents every day will ensure that Traffic Officers and the police are ready to meet future challenges together such as the Capital of Culture celebrations and other events."
Traffic Officers based at the Highways Agency's high-tech Regional Control Centre at Rob Lane in Newton-le-Willows and colleagues from outstations at Knutsford and Samlesbury have dealt with thousands of serious and other incidents along the M62, M57, M58 and M53 since the launch into Merseyside on 26 April last year.
Tackling congestion is a priority for the patrols with Traffic Officers in the county playing a significant role in reducing the impact of accidents and other incidents on delays. Patrols' congestion-tackling work includes removing dangerous debris and live animals from carriageways and hard shoulders and working with the police at serious incidents to manage traffic and speed up congestion relief.
Traffic Officers' response is coordinated from the HA's high-tech North West Regional Control Centre (RCC), also located at Rob Lane. There, Officers in the control room monitor motorway cameras, set signs warning of incidents and bad weather and answer calls from emergency roadside telephones in the motorway hard shoulder.
Called to a multiple road traffic collision on the M62 south of Prescot in August of last year, Constable Rachael Fidler from Merseyside Police discovered that with no serious injuries involved HA TOs already had the situation in hand.
She said: "The main carriageway had been cleared and the traffic flowing again freely. Theirs was a fast and efficient response to the incident.
"The friendly way in which they dealt with the parties involved in the collision and myself was also notable - they are real ambassadors in building excellent relationships between the Traffic Officer Service the police forces they assist across the region."
Drivers from the area have also praised Traffic Officers. Everton and England striker Andy Johnson, assisted on the M62 last year when he suffered a late night puncture, said it was 'a great service'.
And senior engineering manager Barry Baker from Wirral was full of praise after Traffic Officers advised him following a puncture on the M53 near in January. "I give then 10 out of 10 for their diplomacy and professionalism - and their approach to safety was excellent."
Brian Hensby, Operations Manager at the RCC in charge of Traffic Officers in Merseyside, said: "We are delighted by the welcome we have received from road users and from Merseyside Police. It is a credit to our teams out on the road as well as those staffing the Regional Control Centre.
"Advising and providing reassurance to broken down drivers is only part of our role and Traffic Officers are also playing an important role in Merseyside in tackling congestion as well as working with the police to manage traffic at serious incidents. "We have worked very closely in the North West with each of the five county police forces to establish close working relationships but it is always nice to get this kind of response from our partners on the motorway network.
"Of course we are not complacent. The service is still evolving and we welcome feedback from drivers and other travellers."
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. The Traffic Officer Service in the North West reached full strength in summer 2006, with 200 Traffic Officers patrolling all motorways across the region with up to 19 two-person patrols per shift around the clock (nights in Cumbria from September 2006).
3. The North West includes key cross-county routes such as the M62, M56 and M6 and has more motorway miles than any other RCC region in the country.
4. The NW Regional Control Centre (RCC) is based just off Junction 23 the M6 at Newton-Le-Willows and is responsible for the M60 Outer Manchester ring road - one of the busiest in England.
5. The RCC is responsible for coordinating traffic officer activities across the region - monitoring conditions across the network from cameras and sensors.
6. On road Traffic Officers and supervisors are based at six 'outstations' across the network including Knutsford (Cheshire), Milnrow and Rob Lane (covering Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester), Samlesbury (Lancashire), Millness and Lowhurst (both Cumbria).
7. The 24/7 RCC is staffed by Traffic Officers and Police Liaison Officers.
8. Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is available:
a. From the web at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
b. By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
9. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.
10. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)
Safe driving at roadworks
During 2006 two workers were killed and 19 seriously injured in the course of their work on Highways Agency roads.
For the safety of all road users and roadworkers, when you are approaching roadworks:
- Keep within the speed limit - it is there for your safety.
- Get into the correct lane in good time - don't keep switching.
- Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.
- Be alert for works' traffic leaving or entering roadworks.
- Keep a safe distance - there could be queues in front.
- Observe all signs - they are there to help you.
