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Commitment to safer, more reliable journeys as Highways Agency publishes Annual Report 2006-07

HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release (HA042-07) issued by The Government News Network on 25 July 2007

The Highways Agency today publishes its Annual Report for 2006-07. We met or exceeded all but one of our Ministerial Targets and established ourselves as a true network operator and traffic manager for England's motorways and major A roads.

The Annual Report explains how the Highways Agency is making journeys safer and more reliable, delivering better information services for drivers and working to reduce the impact of strategic roads on the environment. We published our first Sustainable Development Action Plan in June.

Archie Robertson, Chief Executive, said:

"Our customers are making more use of the strategic road network, but against a backdrop of increasing demand we continue to help our customers by providing safer, more reliable journeys and better information services. We achieved our role as network operator, directly managing traffic on England's motorways through our network of regional control centres.

"We know it's vital to balance the demands of road users with a sustainable future, and to make the best use of existing road space. We are looking at best practice and innovation to find the best solutions, and driving up the standard of service we give to our customers. Our commitment to put our customers first has been strengthened with our Customer Promise. It sets out in simple language what we aim to deliver, and it will help us drive our performance forward.

"In 2006-07 our new Traffic Officer service reached full operational capability and we successfully trialled demand management measures such as using the hard shoulder of the M42 near Birmingham as a traffic lane during peak periods.

"We are encouraging drivers to plan their journeys with information services that give people what they need, when they need it. Three new information services, including a new digital traffic radio service, are due to be delivered this year.

"The Agency missed its target for delivery of major road schemes because of a review of significant cost increases on some projects and the associated Nichols review and National Audit Office study of cost estimation and project management. We know there is room to improve, so we are implementing a series of measures to address the issues raised by Nichols and the National Audit Office. The review process will make sure we are taking forward only those projects with a sound business case and best value for money."

Achievements by the Highways Agency this year include:
* 11 major road schemes opened to traffic, reducing congestion and improving safety at key points on the network.
* Safety on the roads improved. There were fewer people killed or seriously injured on the network but we are not complacent and work continues to reduce this number even further.
* Our Traffic Officer service achieved full capability. Highways Agency traffic officers, supported by our seven regional control centres, are now responsible for management of routine incidents. In the second half of 2006-07 they attended an average of 1,000 incidents a month.
* Controlled opening of the hard shoulder on the M42 near Birmingham to increase the number of lanes available during busy periods. This was introduced six months early, as part of our Active Traffic Management pilot, in September 2006.
* We are developing three new driver information services for delivery in 2007, a new DAB radio service, CCTV images made more widely available to the public and the media, and wider use of anticipated travel times displayed on motorway variable message signs.

Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. The Highways Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 is available at http://www.highways.gov.uk. Copies are available to the media by calling the press office on 0207 081 7443.

3. Copies of the report are available to the public on http://www.highways.gov.uk or from TSO (The Stationery Office) PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN. Telephone: 0870 600 5522. The cost is £25.00 per copy.

Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is available:
- From the web at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
- By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.

For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)

Issued by the Highways Agency press office. Media enquiries including out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office on 0207 081 7443.