National Highways traffic officer
A 2022 Volvo XC90 PHEV National Highways traffic officer patrol and response vehicle | |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
Activity sectors | Government, road traffic control, vehicle recovery, roadside assistance |
| Description | |
Fields of employment | Strategic road network in England operated by National Highways. |
Related jobs | Road policing unit, Traffic guard |
National Highways traffic officers, previously Highways England traffic officers (2015–2021) and Highways Agency traffic officers (HATO 2004–2015), are employed by National Highways in England.
They are a civilian service who respond to both emergency and routine incidents on the strategic road network operated by National Highways.
In April 2004, Highways Agency traffic officers began working alongside the police on motorways in the West Midlands. Initial patrols were along the M5, M6 and M42, with 50 individuals. National roll-out of traffic officers was completed on 18 July 2006, starting to cover all of the motorway network within England, i.e. which functions as a subsidiary of the National Highways, and the All-Purpose Trunk Road (APTR) network.
This is a civilian role, operated in accordance with National Guidance Framework agreed with the National Police Chiefs' Council.