Award highlights key role of the traffic officer
The year-round efforts of traffic officers have been officially recognised with the presentation of a prestigious award.
The Highways Agency’s Traffic Officer Service was given the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for Outstanding contribution to improving road safety.
“The Traffic Officer Service handles around half a million incidents a year on England’s strategic road network,” said Director of Traffic Management Simon Sheldon-Wilson as he collected the award at the Agency’s Birmingham control centre.
“Our traffic officers are always out on the road network or working in our regional control centres, they attend to vulnerable motorists, make sure that vehicles are recovered, set warning signs and signals and help people involved in collisions and other incidents.
“Traffic officers also play a key role in supporting the emergency services in dealing with incidents on the network.”
Presenting the award, Adrian Walsh, Director of RoadSafe, said: “Traffic officers make a significant contribution to the safety of our major roads, their presence certainly deters drivers from breaking the law and they are often the first on the scene when a crash occurs.”
Tragedy
This accolade comes just days after a traffic officer “paid the ultimate sacrifice”.
PC Mark Goodlad, 41, was killed when an articulated lorry hit him as he was helping a stranded motorist on the hard shoulder of the M1 near Crigglestone, Wakefield.
Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police Sir Norman Bettison said PC Goodlad was “doing his job as his colleagues do day in day out”.
He added: “People sometimes overlook the real essence of policing. We exist to protect the public from threat and harm. Police officers put themselves at risk for others.”
See also:
No comments yet
