 The "jam busters'" uniforms were revealed on Friday |
Plans for teams of "jam busters" who would swoop in after road accidents to get traffic moving have been unveiled as part of a bid to tackle congestion. The proposals would give the Highways Agency powers to send out uniformed patrols to motorway troublespots to take charge of incidents.
The measures from Transport Secretary Alistair Darling also include a crackdown on lengthy roadworks.
Local authorities would appoint a traffic manager for their area.
Tackling disruption
Mr Darling said the Traffic Management Bill will keep motorists on the move with a "more targeted and faster" clear up response to accidents, obstructions and road works.
 | KEY POINTS New traffic managers Clampdown on utility roadworks Powers to stop roadworks Fines for poor work Tougher parking regimes |
He said the bill will give the Highways Agency and councils "powers and a duty" to keep roads clear and traffic moving. "They will now have to focus more sharply on tackling causes of congestion and disruption," he said
"New powers for councils to manage when and where street works are carried out will put an end to congestion caused by poorly planned and lengthy works.
"Neighbouring authorities will be required to work together to keep traffic flowing across the network.
 There are an estimated 4m "dug" road holes at any one time |
"The Highways Agency will get powers to manage motorway incidents which will mean motorists caught in traffic due to road accidents or obstructions should benefit from a more targeted and faster clear-up response. "Traffic officers will be on scene following road incidents to work with police to clear the road as quickly as possible.
"These new powers, as well as new traffic enforcement provisions for councils will also free up police time, allowing them to concentrate on their other priorities."
Digging up roads
The bill includes seven key elements:
Local authorities will appoint a traffic manager responsible for keeping traffic moving. Councils to be given greater control over utility companies' streetworks. New powers so local authorities can prevent repeated digging up of roads. Utility companies will have to apply for permits to carry out streetworks. Utility companies failing to repair roads properly face fines of up to �5,000 and will be forced to rectify previous poor work. Local authorities to take over certain traffic enforcement roles from police including enforcing box junction rules. Parking enforcement powers to be strengthened and local authorities will be able to apply for greater powers. Permit
The secretary of state will set up Regional Control Centres to monitor and manage traffic on the motorway network.
Councils will be able to ban works on a particular road until a specified date, to prevent streets from being repeatedly dug up.
The government will be able to direct a local authority to apply for greater parking enforcement powers.
Transport for London will co-ordinate traffic management between London boroughs and other traffic authorities.
There will be a single London-wide permit scheme covering all types of street works.
The plans were announced during November's State Opening of Parliament.
Motoring organisation the AA estimates there are four million "dug" holes in Britain's roads at any one time.
Over estimates?
Before the early 1990s, only a dozen or so companies had statutory rights to take a dig up public highways.
This grew to about 150 following the deregulation of telecommunications and other utilities and the advent of cable TV, all of which have a stake in the wires and pipes that run underground.
Recent efforts to bring order to the problem have had limited success.
Town halls were given the right to bill companies which overrun on their estimate for getting a job done.
But this has led some to accuse utilities of deliberately overestimating the time needed for repairs, by up to 50% according to a recent report by Halcrow.
Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, has welcomed the new legislation.
Tipping the balance?
"For far too long the utilities have been given a free hand to dig holes in the road and have given little consideration to extensive and expensive traffic delays that result," he said.
"This new government legislation will hopefully address the balance in favour of road users and pedestrians who suffer unnecessary delays because of over-running road works."
A Department for Transport official said the plans will free-up 550 full-time police officers to concentrate on fighting crime in England and Wales.
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