The Highways Agency today (Thursday, November 29) starts a public consultation over proposals to allow Traffic Officers to remove broken down or abandoned vehicles from the strategic road network.

The consultation will last for 12 weeks and the Highways Agency is inviting drivers and other interested groups to comment on the proposals.

In its consultation document, The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles by Traffic Officers and the Secretary of State for Transport, the Highways Agency is seeking new legislation to remove certain, abandoned and broken down vehicles from the strategic road network which includes England's motorways and major A roads.

Breakdowns on the strategic road network cover only around one to two percent of all break downs. The powers that would be given to Traffic Officers would be similar to those already exercised by the police.

The proposal for the new legislation aims to:

• provide Traffic Officers with similar powers to the police to request or remove from the strategic road network abandoned and broken down vehicles causing an obstruction or danger to other road users.
  
• provide the Secretary of State with powers to store and dispose of abandoned vehicles removed by Traffic Officers.
  
• allow the Secretary of State to recover charges in respect of vehicles removed, stored or disposed under the regulations.

Derek Turner, the Highways Agency's Director of Traffic Operations, said,
"Giving Traffic Officers the power to arrange the removal of vehicles which are abandoned or are causing an obstruction or danger to other drivers on the network was always planned. These powers, which would apply at all but the most serious police-led incidents, are an extension of the work they are already doing around the clock to improve safety on our motorways. However, we are keen to hear what everyone else thinks."

The Traffic Officer Service was introduced as a result of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and the power to remove vehicles is being sought through a statutory instrument.

Giving Traffic Officers the new powers will help keep carriageways and hard shoulders clear of vehicles which have been abandoned or cause obstruction or danger to other road users as well as keeping traffic moving safely.

The police will retain their powers to remove and dispose of vehicles but the extension of similar powers to Traffic Officers will free up police time.

The Highways Agency supports the valued role of motoring clubs and other suitable private arrangements since these will continue to provide the vast majority of vehicle removals from carriageways and hard shoulders.

The Highways Agency has already been talking to the police and the vehicle recovery industry about the proposals.

Anyone needing more information about the proposals, including how to make comments during the consultation period, can visit the dedicated pages on the Highways Agency's website at: http://www.highways.gov.uk/VehicleRecoveryConsultation

Information is also available by emailing NVRPconsultation@highways.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to Kelly Luther, Network Operational Policy Team, Woodlands 1st Floor, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW.