Highways Agency Traffic Officer HATO Land Rover Walk Around

[@emailsean99]

which then makes them an emergency vehicle then doesnt it?? Im an ambulance medic (currently solo responder) if I put in a shout for help because Im dealing with something in lane 3 alone then I want my help coming on the double quick! I wouldnt mind knowing HATO could at that point put on blues and get to me quicker, that would make them an emergency service... and in this day and age with the amount of vehicles on the road, They need to be upgraded, trained and utilised as such!

[@rmo668]

I agree. Prob is that blue lights are legally reserved for emergency vehicles. Technically speaking these HATO vehicles are not emergency vehicles although they're often first on the scene in emergency situations.

[@geko7844]

cool, but i agree, they should have a blue beacon to be turned on at accidents, but when off, its clear

[@TheAlllseeeingFish]

Do these vehicles use any form of siren when responding or is it just the amber flashing lights?

[@WK-zb3ly]

Fred Wright. No however they do use an electronic bullhorn to allow for quick and safe progress

[@SimplexEAS2019]

They do use sirens, actually.

[@simpleNomadUK]

actually they don't have sirens - they have an electronic bullhorn which they use when making progress. the HA is not an Emergency, or an Essential service hence no blue light exemptions. Their remit is defined in the Traffic Management Act 2004 and is: Officers must follow the directions of a police constable, and to exercise their powers, must be on duty and in uniform. For the purposes of: Maintaining or improving the movement of traffic on a relevant road over which the traffic officer has jurisdiction Preventing or reducing the effect of anything causing (or which has the potential to cause) congestion or other disruption to the movement of traffic on such a road, Avoiding danger to persons or other traffic using such a road (or preventing risks of any such danger arising), Preventing damage to, or to anything on or near, such a road, A traffic officer may: Direct a person driving or propelling a vehicle to stop the vehicle, or to make it proceed in, or keep to, a particular line of traffic, For the purposes of a traffic survey of any description which is being carried out on or in the vicinity of a road, to direct a person driving or propelling a vehicle to stop the vehicle, or to make it proceed in, or keep to, a particular line of traffic, or to proceed to a particular point on or near the road on which the vehicle is being driven or propelled (subject to the restriction in section 35(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)), To direct persons on foot (or such persons and other traffic) to stop, To direct a person driving a mechanically propelled vehicle, or riding a cycle, on a road to stop the vehicle or cycle, To place temporary traffic signs and cones on a road

[@ukemergency]

There is no provision in law to allow them to use a siren.

[@TheAlllseeeingFish]

Yet they have the power to close the motorways and are usually quicker on scene at accidents than the police themselves!? I think the law should be changed, don't you agree?

[@keyed_6727]

There's more traffic officers more spread out than police.

[@leeandrews2473]

Highway agencies driving around in 60k vehicles holding up the motorways for any single thing another drain on the tax payers

[@midlandsdriver9667]

Yes... your safety is such an inconvenience...

[@macca696]

What's up you fail the interview