O7INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
O7.1EMERGENCIES
O7.1.1 Emergencies on the highways network are normally dealt with by either the police, other emergency services or traffic officers (if appropriate). If they do not last more than a few hours, as in the case of a vehicle breakdown or an accident on the carriageway, the police or traffic officers will erect the necessary temporary signs. However, if the effects of the emergency last for a longer duration (e.g. when a damaged length of road surface has to be replaced following a vehicle fire), the police or traffic officers will request that the Highway Authority or its maintaining agents take over and erect signs in accordance with the recommendations of Part 1: Design. Should an emergency occur within a section of carriageway already subject to restrictions as a result of road works, the police may request the site personnel to erect or alter signing. It is recommended that the police consult with either the person responsible for the traffic management on the site or a person competent in temporary traffic management before issuing any instructions to change signing.
O7.1.2 The guidance in this section applies to all roads on the highway network.
O7.1.3 Where positive traffic control has to be used in an emergency, the site supervisor should inform the Highway Authority and the police at once and request assistance. Traffic control is discussed in Part 1: Design, Section D5.4.D5.4.
O7.1.4 If emergency diversions are likely to be a rare occurrence, the cost of permanent symbolic signing (see Part 1: Design, Section D3.15) along diversion routes may not be justified. Emergency diversion routes should be signed with "temporary diversion" signs to diagrams 2702 to 2707 unless the route is already marked by permanent symbolic signing in accordance with Part 1: Design, Section D3.15. These signs must not be used on a motorway (see TSRGD direction 13(3)).
O7.1.5 The sign to diagram 562 supplemented by the "Accident" plate variant to diagram 563 may be used on motorways and other dual carriageway roads subject to the national speed limit, to give advance warning of an accident. See Chapter 4 for guidance on the use of diagrams 562 and 563. Various other signs will probably be used at the site of the accident, the treatment being similar to that adopted for road works, and will depend upon the severity and duration of the situation. In an emergency, it may not be possible to provide the full range of signs immediately, and the first signs to be erected may be those provided by the police or traffic officers. The aim should always be to give adequate advance warning.
O7.1.6 The prescribed signs "STOP POLICE", "POLICE SLOW" and "POLICE ACCIDENT" to diagrams 633, 829.1 and 829.2 are for use only by the police in an emergency. Additional authorised signs for use in an emergency, such as "INCIDENT SLOW", "INCIDENT USE HARD SHOULDER" and "REJOIN MAIN CARRIAGEWAY" are for use by traffic officers and those acting under their instructions. Each incident will require different treatment and this section does not attempt to set out the specific details of the manner in which these signs should be used. For working drawings of these signs refer to the Overseeing Organisation.
O7.1.7 In tidal flow systems, the tidal lane normally has sufficient lane width to carry mixed traffic in these circumstances, and may be used to redirect traffic to bypass the obstruction. At night, when traffic flows are low, the tidal lane may be closed to serve as a buffer lane between opposing flows and for maintenance and emergency access. Consideration could also be given to the closure of the tidal lane in off-peak periods if flows permit.
O7.1.8 For incident control, whilst it is not possible to predict the timing and precise location of incidents, highway operators should prepare generic plans and procedures to deal with any foreseeable scenarios which are liable to arise from incident situations. Generic plans should take account of previous incidents and works occurring on the network including emergency street works and road traffic accidents.
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