Highways Agency

10/11/2008 by admin.

I chaired Manchester Airport’s ground transport forum which was sponsored by the Highways Agency.

The officials at the event drew our attention to Atlas pro, a free traffic information service for professionals. Just go to http://atlaspro.tistrafficinfo.com to register. You will be askede why you want access so presumably, there is some kind of vetting but I was given an account..and impressive it is.

I’m still investigating but you get access to some pretty detailed real-time info about what’s going on out there..right down to what is showing at the moment on the variable message signs.

*And while we are on that subject, am I the only one who wonders what is really behind those signs which tell you how long it is going to take you to get to a specific junction ahead.

It works by comparing historical profile data for a route with the current traffic conditions.

The current traffic conditions are monitored using automatic number plate recognition cameras to see how long it takes individuals to travel between fixed points.

Of course the data is then destroyed to comply with the data protection act.

But should the government decide after all to introduce a national road user charge - the equipment is already there!

I actually prepared a story about this for the M.E.N. but the Department for Transport denied it and the newsdesk and the editor took their word and the story never saw the light of day!!!

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