Highways Agency landrovers - General Discussion

whoever,hey · 29-05-2007, 18:20

On motor ways you see the traffic cops which are in landrovers coloured yellow and blue.

Then you see highways agency landrovers, in yellow and black.

Can the highways guys do you for speeding or anything or arrest you at all? I just wondered, because my g/f thinks they can but i dont. Also because from what i've seen they only have yellow lights and not blue.

What do you think?

fat controller · 29-05-2007, 18:24

My understanding is that they can't arrest you, nor book you for speeding, but if you were to ignore their instructions (for lane closures etc) or do something that would endanger the lives of others then they can report you to the police.

LWTC · 29-05-2007, 18:27

I believe they cant, but they do have radio contact with someone who can.

EdwardianOne · 29-05-2007, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

On motor ways you see the traffic cops which are in landrovers coloured yellow and blue.

Then you see highways agency landrovers, in yellow and black.

Can the highways guys do you for speeding or anything or arrest you at all? I just wondered, because my g/f thinks they can but i dont. Also because from what i've seen they only have yellow lights and not blue.

What do you think?

I think that they're meant to help mainly with breakdowns and accidents, and that they will direct people in these situations, who will have to do as they ask.

I can't help thinking though that they are just like motorway traffic wardens, but with fewer powers.

29-05-2007, 21:43

My brother is one of these.
They have power to close roads, close lanes, assist in accidents, do rolling road blocks, and lots of other similar things. They do not have any power to arrest anyone nor do they have the ability to stop you for anything. They are, however, in constant radio contact with their operations team who can and do pass on messages to the police.
Their main job is to patrol the motorways, keep the traffic flowing, be the first on scene of accidents, ensure the safety of drivers in accidents and other drivers around them.
They also end up chasing horses and swans off of motorways and standing in the rain waiting for breakdown services to arrive if the driver wants them to wait with them.

the HATO site:http://www.highways.gov.uk/jobs/5566.aspx

gunneruk · 29-05-2007, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

On motor ways you see the traffic cops which are in landrovers coloured yellow and blue.

Then you see highways agency landrovers, in yellow and black.

Can the highways guys do you for speeding or anything or arrest you at all? I just wondered, because my g/f thinks they can but i dont. Also because from what i've seen they only have yellow lights and not blue.

What do you think?

Never mind that what about the CO2 they are pumping out into the atmosphere. Tut tut.

whoever,hey · 29-05-2007, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by AS1

My brother is one of these.
They have power to close roads, close lanes, assist in accidents, do rolling road blocks, and lots of other similar things. They do not have any power to arrest anyone nor do they have the ability to stop you for anything. They are, however, in constant radio contact with their operations team who can and do pass on messages to the police.
Their main job is to patrol the motorways, keep the traffic flowing, be the first on scene of accidents, ensure the safety of drivers in accidents and other drivers around them.
They also end up chasing horses and swans off of motorways and standing in the rain waiting for breakdown services to arrive if the driver wants them to wait with them.

Cheers, all.

Thats kind of what i expected. I like that last bit, and i do wonder what it means when it says 'animals in road' on the motorway overhead

Tell your brother by the way, they do an excellent job! I use them every day.

Glen · 29-05-2007, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

Can the highways guys do you for speeding or anything or arrest you at all? I just wondered, because my g/f thinks they can but i dont. Also because from what i've seen they only have yellow lights and not blue.

No they aren't police, they can't enforce laws. The only powers they have is to direct traffic and it is an offence no to follow their instrctions.
http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/601.aspx

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

and i do wonder what it means when it says 'animals in road' on the motorway overhead

I would have though that that was one of the more self explanitory VMS messages?

whoever,hey · 29-05-2007, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen

I would have though that that was one of the more self explanitory VMS messages?

I drive a lot of miles, and yes its is obviously an animal. I just wondered what kind of animals. A dog running around is one thing, but a deer is another!

Touché Rupert · 29-05-2007, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen

No they aren't police, they can't enforce laws. The only powers they have is to direct traffic and it is an offence no to follow their instrctions.
http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/601.aspx
I would have though that that was one of the more self explanitory VMS messages?

I'm pretty sure they have a few powers when it comes to the weight of trucks and things like that.

whoever,hey · 29-05-2007, 22:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Touché Rupert

I'm pretty sure they have a few powers when it comes to the weight of trucks and things like that.

Actually this leads to another question. On the junction between the A167(M) and M62 there is an odd kind of area off the junction roundabout. Its kind of like a small car park with parking bays and a few AVIO (sp?) vehicles around. I did also wonder what they did too. I assumed they did work for the DVLA hence the weight load stuff you mention.

Its really odd because its pinchered right in the corner of the roundabout, hence me noticing so much sat at red lights.

Glen · 29-05-2007, 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Touché Rupert

I'm pretty sure they have a few powers when it comes to the weight of trucks and things like that.

No they don't, that is the job of traffic police and VOSA.

whoever,hey · 29-05-2007, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen

No they don't, that is the job of traffic police and VOSA.

I always got VOSA confused with AVIO (the sony laptop brand). So what do VOSA do then? Isn't that on the front of highways cars?

Glen · 29-05-2007, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

Actually this leads to another question. On the junction between the A167(M) and M62 there is an odd kind of area off the junction roundabout. Its kind of like a small car park with parking bays and a few AVIO (sp?) vehicles around. I did also wonder what they did too. I assumed they did work for the DVLA hence the weight load stuff you mention.

Its really odd because its pinchered right in the corner of the roundabout, hence me noticing so much sat at red lights.

If you mean the roundabout on the A627(M) (M62 J20), that is a VOSA depot/weighbridge. The unused part of what was a roundabout of Switch Island (M57/M58/A59 junstion in Aintree) has a similar facilty.

They often have these site close to motorway junction as it is convienient to stop vehicles from the motorway for roadside checks.

Glen · 29-05-2007, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

I always got VOSA confused with AVIO (the sony laptop brand). So what do VOSA do then? Isn't that on the front of highways cars?

No, that's Vaio.

The traffic officers (HATOs) are Highways Agency - they run the motorways and trunk roads in England.
VOSA - Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, another agency of the DfT - are responsible for testing vehicles and licencing operators. They also have similar looking vehicles with black/yellow battenberg markings which can often be seen on motorways - they have the power to stop any vehicle they wish to inspect to ensure their roadworthiness.

29-05-2007, 18:20	#1
whoever,hey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Services: Toppy, Quad Vista 64, PS3 Posts: 18,563	Highways Agency landrovers On motor ways you see the traffic cops which are in landrovers coloured yellow and blue. Then you see highways agency landrovers, in yellow and black. Can the highways guys do you for speeding or anything or arrest you at all? I just wondered, because my g/f thinks they can but i dont. Also because from what i've seen they only have yellow lights and not blue. What do you think?

29-05-2007, 18:24	#2
fat controller Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Gender: Male Location: Slightly round the bend Services: Running water, phone, electric and that new fangled net thingy Posts: 9,327	My understanding is that they can't arrest you, nor book you for speeding, but if you were to ignore their instructions (for lane closures etc) or do something that would endanger the lives of others then they can report you to the police.

29-05-2007, 18:27	#3
LWTC Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portsmouth Services: SKY, BT Broadband 8mb Posts: 134	I believe they cant, but they do have radio contact with someone who can.

29-05-2007, 21:43	#5
AS1 Posts: n/a	My brother is one of these. They have power to close roads, close lanes, assist in accidents, do rolling road blocks, and lots of other similar things. They do not have any power to arrest anyone nor do they have the ability to stop you for anything. They are, however, in constant radio contact with their operations team who can and do pass on messages to the police. Their main job is to patrol the motorways, keep the traffic flowing, be the first on scene of accidents, ensure the safety of drivers in accidents and other drivers around them. They also end up chasing horses and swans off of motorways and standing in the rain waiting for breakdown services to arrive if the driver wants them to wait with them. the HATO site:http://www.highways.gov.uk/jobs/5566.aspx