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• Traffic Incident Management Bulletin

December 2008

During 2008, we have made significant achievements in improving the way incidents are managed on the Highways Agency's network. Here's a summary of some of the good practice and lessons leant we've highlighted in TIM Bulletin this year.

Lessons learned

During the year subscriber numbers to the TIM Bulletin have steadily increased and we now have well over 1000 subscribers - almost double the number at the end of 2007! Over 60 articles featuring information around good practice and lessons learnt have been published this year. We gathered feedback from our readers through the questionnaire in June and July and have taken the comments on board for future content of the Bulletin. The Bulletin has also become more interactive and articles containing video and multimedia items have been published, helping to highlight important information.

The TIM team has attended 65% of post-incident cold debriefs held around the country to ensure that nationally-relevant issues are identified and communicated. Where we have not been able to attend, the outcomes have still been monitored through the Network Operations Actions Spreadsheets to ensure that relevant issues are escalated and dealt with as appropriate.

Progress this month:

• Nine post-incident cold debriefs were attended within the month and issues which have been identified as nationally relevant will be highlighted within the TIM Bulletin.
• There was successful engagement at the Emergency Services Show held at Stoneleigh Park which resulted in over 250 people subscribing to the Bulletin.

Airwave to Service Providers

The project has made significant progress this year with the operating model agreed and refined during the year. A procurement strategy and route for delivery was also agreed, equipment for all areas is now ordered and delivery has begun. Successful applications for licences have been made for Areas 1 and 2 which are involved in phase 1 of the delivery of the project.

Progress this month:

• The licence application for Area 1 and 2 in the South West has been approved by the Central Sponsor for Information Assurance.
• Programmed radios have been delivered for training and development.
• The Highways Agency Traffic Learning Centre has completed training design.
• A draft processes and procedures document is currently being discussed with each of the Highways Agency Regional Control Centres (RCCs).

Equipment

There are several different TIM projects within the equipment workstream. A short summary of the progress of them during 2008 is given below.

Trials of incident screens were completed in Areas 5 and 8 and a full specification for incident screens has been published. The project will now move forward with the issue of an Area Management Memo (AMM) to introduce the functional specification and operational requirements for incident screens. The Highways Agency Area Performance Teams in partnership with their service providers will agree their incident screen requirements, including what type of screens are suitable for their part of the network. Once this is complete, screens will be procured during 2009 for deployment across the network.

The National Occupational Standards for the Incident Support Unit (ISU) operatives training NVQ have now been agreed by the Construction Skills National Working Group for ISU operations. The project is on course for delivery in 2009.

The December target of 1500 Driver Location Signs to be installed on our network was met and, to date, 1693 signs are installed (479 km of the strategic road network). The M56 (up to the A5103), M67 and M53 routes are completed. M1 Junctions 19 to 24 is scheduled to be completed by end of December. You can find frequently asked questions about the signs on the Highways Agency Website.

We will now be loaning 9 more police forces new robotic total stations as part of the collision investigation equipment project to give all forces the same capabilities. Forces received this in December.

It has been found that when GPS equipment cannot be used (20% of all surveys), due to a lack of satellite coverage or obstructions, the new total stations are achieving a saving of an average of 25 minutes per incident over the police's previous total stations.

Progress this month:

• Driver Location Signs budgets have been transferred to the APTs with work still on programme for completion this financial year.
• The National Occupational Standards have now been agreed by the Construction Skills National Working Group for ISU operations. This will form the basis of all qualifications in ISU operations. The standards, syllabus and lesson plans are currently under development by Balfour Beatty.
• Collision investigation equipment was delivered in December.

Highways Agency Roles in Incident Management (HARIM)

A number of pieces of work have been delivered by the HARIM workstream in 2008. Two live multi-agency exercises have been carried out with the Traffic Learning Centre: Exercise Valentine in the North West and Exercise Poppy in the East region with a large number of learning points captured from each and publicised by the TIM Bulletin. TIM has also worked with the Traffic Learning Centre to deliver Silver Command training to Highways Agency Operations Managers within the Traffic Officer Service. 

Compliance with the Standard Incident Management Framework (SIMF), which sets out the Highways Agency's role at incidents in relation to other responders, has been reviewed. A strategy has been developed to assure further embedment of the SIMF where it is required. A toolkit has also been developed to assist the Highways Agency Senior Officers on Call (SOoC) in their role. HARIM have also published a DVD to explain the capabilities of ISUs for the benefits of partner responders.

Progress this month:

• Exercise Poppy was delivered in the East region in November and the debrief has been held in December.
• Production of the SOoC toolkit is complete and has been handed over to the Network Operations Business Delivery Team for roll out.
• Development of the HARIM workstream DVD has been initiated.
• The Standard Incident Management Framework (SIMF) has been reviewed at a stakeholder workshop.
• Workshop held to engage regions in Silver Command process.
• TIM team have continued to raise awareness within the Traffic Officer Service through attendance at foundation training for traffic officers.

Off Network Diversion Routes

The target of delivering off network diversion routes on 50% of the Highways Agency network covered by the Public Service Agreement (PSA) target (see Journey Reliability article) by April 2008 was achieved. The project is now progressing to meet the next target of delivering off network diversion routes on 85% of the PSA network by the end of financial year 2008/2009.

Route cards to accompany the diversion routes are currently being rolled out within the Highways Agency and to partner organizations such as the police to ensure awareness of the routes is raised. These detail the route and important local information to consider if the route has to be used.

Progress this month:

• Continuing delivery of routes - currently at 65%.
• Work is ongoing by the National Traffic Control Centre to simplify agreements with local authorities and work nationally to embed those agreements.

TIM Strategy

The TIM Guidance Framework (TIMGF) has been developed by the Highways Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to encourage a national approach to incidents; defining each party's role, how they can work together and promoting consistent practices.

The TIMGF has been written for staff at a senior operation level who are tasked with delivering their services. It has been created firstly for the partnership between the police and Traffic Officer Service. Plans are being drawn up for other incident responders to be included in this and involved in the TIM Partnership Group over time. The TIMGF will be distributed within both organisations in January 2009.

Progress this month:

• The TIMGF has been signed off by both the Director of Network Operations within the Highways Agency and the chair of the ACPO Roads Policing Operations Forum.

Has this article been worth reading Please take a moment to send us your comments, thoughts, or questions. Email TIMBulletin@highways.gsi.gov.uk