Safe Speed Forums

I've emailed Highays Agency and asked that they comment on this and suggested that SOP's be changed. I thought this would be more use that talking to the press, somehow. Any response I get, I'll ask if I can post it here.

Thank you for your comments regarding the procedures of our HATO patrols in relation to their fending position on the hardshoulder.
When we started developing the Traffic Officer service, we looked across at Police practice. We have working with us a number of ex-Police Officers and some serving Police Officers to advise us and to make best use of Police operational practice and guidance. On fending, it soon became clear that there was no consistency between Police forces. Some forces fend in, others fend off and some park in-line (parallel). The current version of the Police Motorway Manual advises that 'vehicles may be parked in-line or in echelon/fend off position. If fend off is used, the Police vehicle must be parked at a minimum angle of 30 degrees to obtain maximum effect from the retroreflective markings.'


Because of this lack of consistency, we commissioned some research work from the Transport Research Laboratory. As a national organisation, we wanted to provide consistent advice to our Traffic Officers. This work looked at impacts by 1.5t and 7.5t errant vehicles at speeds up to 70mph with 25% nearside overlap, 25% offside overlap and full overlap impact with the Traffic Officer vehicle. A number of other factors were considered such as angle of impact, fending position of the TO vehicle and alignment of front wheels.


The conclusion of that work was that there was no single recommended parking orientation that would apply in all situations. Fend off was better in terms of visibility of the vehicle by other drivers whereas fend in was better in terms of post impact vehicle dynamics. We adopted fend off to maximise the conspicuity of the vehicle to other road users and, therefore, try to prevent an impact from occurring in the first place. The angle suggested is 10 degrees which has little impact on the visibility of the lights but exposes the battenburg livery to motorists' view. It was recommended that the handbrake be engaged with the front wheels steered straight although these measures would have little effect with the wheels already locked by the vehicle being in park and in four wheel drive mode. It was recognised that orientation of the TO vehicle was insignificant in an impact by a 30t errant vehicle.

I hope this helps answer your enquiry.