Traffic Officers
Who They Are
Working alongside the police, traffic officers act as the extra eyes and ears of the motorway network across England and Wales.
They’re highly trained, clearly identifiable, and patrol motorways and major ‘A’ roads to keep traffic moving safely and smoothly.
Traffic officers:
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Wear a high-visibility orange and yellow uniform
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Drive marked vehicles with yellow and black chequered patterns
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Carry identification, including a photo ID card
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Usually patrol in pairs
Each vehicle carries essential motorway equipment such as:
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Temporary road signs and cones
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Warning lights and debris-clearing tools
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A first-aid kit
Role of Traffic Officers
Traffic officers are there to:
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Assist broken-down drivers and arrange recovery
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Offer safety and travel advice
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Clear debris and other hazards from the carriageway
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Patrol the network to maintain visibility and reassurance
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Support police and emergency services during incidents
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Set up mobile or temporary road closures
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Help manage diversion routes after accidents or closures
If you break down or have an emergency on a motorway, the best option is to use an emergency roadside telephone.
Calls go directly to a regional control centre, where operators can:
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View your location via CCTV
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Send the nearest available traffic officer to help
Powers of Traffic Officers
Traffic officers do not have police enforcement powers, but they can:
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Stop and direct traffic on the motorway
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Manage incidents to keep people safe
It is an offence to ignore a direction given by a traffic officer (See The Highway Code, Rules 107 and 108).
Regional control centres can deploy officers to any motorway in England or Wales.