New officers 'to ease congestion'

The traffic officers could stop and direct traffic to help keep it moving

Wales has been urged to create dedicated traffic officers to help tackle problems such as congestion on major roads.

At present police are in charge of vehicle management on major Welsh routes, whereas England already has traffic management officers.

The assembly's enterprise and learning committee wants a similar service established in Wales.

The assembly government said it would trial it on the A55 in north Wales.

Committee chairman Gareth Jones AM said Wales' two major corridors in its road network - the A55, and the M4 in the south - were vulnerable to congestion.

"Such occurrences have worrying social and economic impacts, greater than those experienced in England, given the difficulties caused by the geography and topography of Wales and the less well developed network management here," he said.

Overturned lorry

The committee wants Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones to use existing powers under the Traffic Management Act 2004 to create a dedicated traffic officer service in Wales.

The act provides for traffic officers to have powers to stop and direct traffic, and place and operate traffic signs to deal with incidents and keep traffic moving.

The AMs heard evidence from police officers, the fire service and the Vehicle and Operators Services Agency (VOSA) before coming to their conclusions.

The call comes just weeks after an overturned lorry in Newport caused 10-mile tailbacks on the M4.

The committee's report also recommends the assembly government review its policy on 20mph zones by looking to the impact of zoning schemes in northern Europe.

The AMs also want to see the assembly government working with other stakeholders to develop a driver education programme for schools.

A spokesman for the assembly government said the any traffic officer service would depend on the results of the trial on the A55 and the availability of finance.

On the subject of 20mph zones, the spokesman said local authorities were provided with an annual road safety grant which could be used for setting up the zones

"As of 31 August 2008 there were 438 schemes in Wales involving a 20mph limit or zone," he said.

"Following a wide consultation we will shortly be publishing guidelines for setting local speed limits."