New powers for traffic officers to remove vehicles

New powers for Highways Agency Traffic Officers to remove and dispose of vehicles from England’s busiest roads are a step nearer.

New regulations were laid before Parliament last week following informal and formal consultation, that will allow the Highways Agency’s Traffic Officer Service to authorise the removal of certain broken down and abandoned vehicles from the strategic road network, including England’s motorways and major A roads.

Breakdowns on the strategic road network account for only around one to two percent of all breakdowns. The regulations will give Traffic Officers powers similar to those currently exercised by the police.

For more information about the proposals visit www.highways.gov.uk/vehiclerecovery.