Central civil government - Highways Agency

About the Project

"Safe Roads, Reliable Journeys, Informed Travellers" are the aims of the Highways Agency (HA). An extensive programme of improvements has been planned to deliver these aims to the HA's network of Motorways and Trunk Roads. These improvements are designed on the assumption that drivers will comply with the behaviors required to realize the benefits of these improvements. Enforcement is a tool that can be used to ensure the benefits for the drivers who do comply are not spoilt by the few that do not.

Historically the Highways Agency has addressed the issue of enforcement on a project by project basis with the local enforcement agencies. A new strategic approach is now being adopted.

The Approach

AMTEC Consulting is managing the Highways Agency Enforcement Policy Development Programme, which is being developed with the enforcement agencies to jointly identify the types of non-compliance where enforcement would provide the most benefits from within the existing legal framework of offences. The Highways Agency Enforcement Strategy will be the first deliverable from this programme.

The HA's Enforcement Strategy will be supported by best-practice guidance and followed by a series of policies, each addressing a specific component of scheme design.

Traffic policies can create new stakeholder issues. Most road users comply with safety schemes but they also seek assurances that policies are fair and ethical. Help from AMTEC to create policies, supported by best practice guidance, will develop trust between stakeholders and the HA.