Come on pal, play the game. You know you don’t sit there for hours with an RRB on hoping he sees you. In my vast experience of stopping trucks, they have obliged almost immediately every time.
The procedures were not made by office bods, there are ACPO and Police approved tried and tested procedures.
BossHogg:
For future reference, if one of our cars wants you to pull over on to the hard shoulder, they will move into lane 2 to the rear of you, they will activate the roof bar and flash the headlights whilst indicating for you to pull over, we will then pull in behind you. If you don’t see us, we will pull along side the cab, give a blast on the bull horn to attract your attention and give you a hand signal to pull over. Whilst we are indicating to you, we’ll also have the rear roof lights on and “STAY BACK” to alert traffic behind us to give us a sterile area to stop you safely. If you are in lane 2, we’ll attract your attention in the same way to the rear, we won’t pull alongside this time.
Who’s responsible when you do it to a newly passed driver that panics and smashes into you/someone else/something else and bounces their car?
Based on the fact that in a straw poll (unscientific I know) of several of the driving friends i have, about half didn’t know you existed, some others thought you could arrest people ‘for speeding only’ and the rest thought you were a 'complete %$%^&*( waste of time!!
Not encouraging really is it? I know that is more their fault than yours, but it doesn’t help when trying to stop them. Especially the half that haven’t a clue who you are…
To me, you are merely there because you are much cheaper than the people that should be dealing with these matters.
Not much cheaper, in fact, I’m paid more than a newly qualified constable, plus I’ve been doing the job for over 8 years, so I’ve gained a lot of experience. 
Add to the mix Traffic Officers on the motorway have been operating over 10 years, so your pollists must’ve been driving round with their eyes shut!
I’ll allow myself to be tugged by anyone 
. nothing to hide and paid by the hour tug me everyday if you want.
BossHogg:
Not much cheaper, in fact, I’m paid more than a newly qualified constable, plus I’ve been doing the job for over 8 years, so I’ve gained a lot of experience.
But a lot less than a properly trained and experienced traffic officer I’ll wager? I don’t recall seeing many newly qualified constables running round in Volvo estates/Range Rovers etc.
Regarding your comment on people being unaware of your existence. With your experience, you should know that is precisely what a lot of motorists do! Traffic lights have been operating in the UK since 1926, but people still fail to see them and register their presence!
If motorists didn’t keep missing things 80% of accidents wouldn’t happen. Just ask any motorcyclists - SMIDSYs are very, very common! 
It is well documented on here how much training we have and unlike the majority of jobs, including driving itself, we have continued training in terms of toolbox talks, procedural changes, updates, new additions, briefing notes, attachment days with the emergency services. We cost each and every tax payer £1.60 a year each, not bad really for what we achieve.
With regards to who is responsible should you crash if we try and stop you, the driver is. It is your responsibility to keep yourself up to date with the Highway Code, road rules and systems. Look at our SMART motorways, well documented in the HC, plenty of stuff on the HA Youtube site and even more on Google. Again, it isn’t our responsibility to tell you about the HA Traffic officers, what we do or why we’re here. How many people know who or what the DVSA is?
Send your fiends this, you never know, it may save their life. amazon.co.uk/Official-Highwa … ghway+code
Truckulent:
BossHogg:
Not much cheaper, in fact, I’m paid more than a newly qualified constable, plus I’ve been doing the job for over 8 years, so I’ve gained a lot of experience.But a lot less than a properly trained and experienced traffic officer I’ll wager? I don’t recall seeing many newly qualified constables running round in Volvo estates/Range Rovers etc.
A newly-qualified constable will indeed not be on Motorway/Traffic duties. He will need to have completed his two years’ probation period before he can apply for a specialised role like that.
A newly qualified PC will be on £26k. By the time he is in a position to even be considered for Traffic duties, he will be on £27k7. With 8 years’ service, he would be on £34k. I’d say a HATO is a lot cheaper than a police officer.
LIBERTY_GUY:
I think the Salvation Army should also be allowed to pull HGV’s up.Make all those truckers repent their sins and bless their holy DQC’s at the same time.
like it LOL
OssieD:
Had a bit of a laugh very late one night on the A19 when a police car pulled in front of me and stayed there till the next slip road where he started to pull off, I didn’t follow so he swung back in front and put his blue lights on arm out the window indicating for me to follow which I now did when we got in the weigh station he got out and ran back to me shouting and bollocking me for not following his sign in the car, I then pointed to the back off his car and asked what sign? You guessed it wasn’t working, he then proceeded to give it a good thumping which caused to fall off into his car, “well that’s [zb] that” he said, his immediate apology was accepted, but he still proceeded to weigh my empty motor, more apologies followed when I asked what made them pull me, his answer was because I was going slow and they thought It was because I must be heavy not that I was on hourly pay and had all the time in the world. Happy daysOssie
LOL very good,nice when you get one against them
Roymondo:
■■■■■■00:
Guaranteed it will be a field day . just hope no accidents happen on what could be a needless pulling in just to prove that they can justify themselvesMy understanding is that the HA officers won’t be selecting the vehicles to be stopped - they will be doing the stopping at the direction of the DVSA. I’d guess that a HA bod is paid a bit less than a DVSA bod (and a lot less than a police officer).
exactly what I heard ,they will be supervised by DVSA when the DVSA are shorthanded
BossHogg:
For future reference, if one of our cars wants you to pull over on to the hard shoulder, they will move into lane 2 to the rear of you, they will activate the roof bar and flash the headlights whilst indicating for you to pull over, we will then pull in behind you. If you don’t see us, we will pull along side the cab, give a blast on the bull horn to attract your attention and give you a hand signal to pull over. Whilst we are indicating to you, we’ll also have the rear roof lights on and “STAY BACK” to alert traffic behind us to give us a sterile area to stop you safely. If you are in lane 2, we’ll attract your attention in the same way to the rear, we won’t pull alongside this time.
I just googled a bullhorn as I don’t know what one is, and it came up with “megaphone”. I now have this image of Buford-T-Justice hanging out the side with a mega phone
For all you over enthusiastic wombles! dont be expecting a warm welcome when you pull into the check site. There is alot of ill feeling within the DVSA surrounding your management trying to cling on to your government status, by trying to jump in with another agency. It also comes at a sensitive time when terms and conditions are being changed. Hatos do not share the same powers as vosa/dvsa officers you are not warrented officers with the power of entry to premises, also you are not accredited to stop vehicles for the purposes of inspection. VOSA ESOs powers to stop is derive from RTA 1988 section 66A reg 2011 not the TMA 2004. The Traffic management act 2004 sect 6 powers to stop is solely for the regulation of traffic to keep the highways flowing this does not allow you to direct traffic for enforcement purposes. It is also an offence for a person to impersonate, or falsely suggest they have power of a stopping officer (RTA 1988 sect66c) or wilfully obstruct a stopping officer exercising their powers. Your highways or police status does not exempt you from this. Hatos should stick to what there where employed to do keep the roads moving, by clearing up any obstruction, after all thats the job you took on…
So. Will I still see Buford with his megaphone?
Roymondo:
A newly qualified PC will be on £26k. By the time he is in a position to even be considered for Traffic duties, he will be on £27k7. With 8 years’ service, he would be on £34k. I’d say a HATO is a lot cheaper than a police officer.
We are on nearly £27K a year with shift allowance. So not much cheaper as I said.
Lighting mcqueen:
For all you over enthusiastic wombles! dont be expecting a warm welcome when you pull into the check site. There is alot of ill feeling within the DVSA surrounding your management trying to cling on to your government status, by trying to jump in with another agency. It also comes at a sensitive time when terms and conditions are being changed. Hatos do not share the same powers as vosa/dvsa officers you are not warrented officers with the power of entry to premises, also you are not accredited to stop vehicles for the purposes of inspection. VOSA ESOs powers to stop is derive from RTA 1988 section 66A reg 2011 not the TMA 2004. The Traffic management act 2004 sect 6 powers to stop is solely for the regulation of traffic to keep the highways flowing this does not allow you to direct traffic for enforcement purposes. It is also an offence for a person to impersonate, or falsely suggest they have power of a stopping officer (RTA 1988 sect66c) or wilfully obstruct a stopping officer exercising their powers. Your highways or police status does not exempt you from this. Hatos should stick to what there where employed to do keep the roads moving, by clearing up any obstruction, after all thats the job you took on…
Fine by me, I’m only interested in doing the job I’ve been trained and get paid for. I’m not interested in taking a load of crap for no extra pay.
Lighting mcqueen:
For all you over enthusiastic wombles! dont be expecting a warm welcome when you pull into the check site. There is alot of ill feeling within the DVSA surrounding your management trying to cling on to your government status, by trying to jump in with another agency. It also comes at a sensitive time when terms and conditions are being changed. Hatos do not share the same powers as vosa/dvsa officers you are not warrented officers with the power of entry to premises, also you are not accredited to stop vehicles for the purposes of inspection. VOSA ESOs powers to stop is derive from RTA 1988 section 66A reg 2011 not the TMA 2004. The Traffic management act 2004 sect 6 powers to stop is solely for the regulation of traffic to keep the highways flowing this does not allow you to direct traffic for enforcement purposes. It is also an offence for a person to impersonate, or falsely suggest they have power of a stopping officer (RTA 1988 sect66c) or wilfully obstruct a stopping officer exercising their powers. Your highways or police status does not exempt you from this. Hatos should stick to what there where employed to do keep the roads moving, by clearing up any obstruction, after all thats the job you took on…
Oh dear, I thought there was always one but there seems to be more.
You suggest our management are clinging on to our Gov status, you know after April we will no longer be civil servantsand therefore not be Government employees anymore don’t you, you must do as you claim to know everything else. Also, do you really think that a Government agency (Currently) is going to just go out and illegally stop trucks and coaches? Surely not, if we are to stop you, we will have the powers to, rest assured. I will do whatever is expected or asked of me as a Traffic Officer, be it stop trucks, stand in the rain or help the most unsociable, ignorant and abusive members of the public I come across when I try and help them.
I may be getting the wrong end of the stick here Jase but I get a sneaking suspicion that you are experiencing a twitch or two in your “special place” at the thought of your upcoming powers to stop.
No sir, we are not doing it in the East, only the North and it is only a trial. However, I am sure if a drunk driver was constantly driving past your house at night putting people at risk including your loved ones, you’d want to do something, no you WOULD do something. DVSA in my area don’t target law abiding companies or drivers, only the slightly cagey ones. If that means stopping them falsifying Tacho records, driving illegally or using unsafe trucks putting your loved ones at risk when out and about then why not. You think a Policeman dislikes stopping people who need to be stopped?
Looks like we’ll all have to get out cameras ready to take snaps of HATO’s when we see them doing wrong too
Big Jase:
No sir, we are not doing it in the East, only the North and it is only a trial. However, I am sure if a drunk driver was constantly driving past your house at night putting people at risk including your loved ones, you’d want to do something, no you WOULD do something. DVSA in my area don’t target law abiding companies or drivers, only the slightly cagey ones. If that means stopping them falsifying Tacho records, driving illegally or using unsafe trucks putting your loved ones at risk when out and about then why not. You think a Policeman dislikes stopping people who need to be stopped?
And when all you stop is green operators because you dont know your arse from your elbow and ■■■■ the industry off then what happens?
