05/10/2006
Thousands of emergency motorway phones to be installed
The government has announced plans to install 6,500 new emergency roadside phones on motorways and all purpose trunk roads in England over the next three years.
The plan is part of a £20 million project to replace old phones. The government said that the new phones will provide a better service to road users, particularly those with special needs, and that they would reduce the level of background traffic noise.
In order to make the phones easier to use in noisy location and for the hearing impaired, a loud siren and flashing light will signal that the phone is ringing on the roadside.
The operator will also be able to activate a text display and answer questions with tick and cross buttons.
Users will be given a choice of languages through a text facility with preset questions; the preset responses will be sent back in the selected language.
The government said that the design of the new phones was easier to maintain and was more cost effective as the phones check themselves for faults and reports them, requiring fewer inspections.
The phones' power supply will be supplemented by solar energy.
The phones will be connected to one of the Agency's seven regional control centres which manage traffic on the strategic road network. Some new phones have already been installed on roads in Kent, Essex and Nottinghamshire. The project will continue from Kent along the motorways towards Bristol and then up to Manchester, working its way around England over the next three years.
Commenting on the new phones, Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman said: "Emergency roadside telephones are a vital connection between people experiencing problems on the motorway and the Highways Agency staff who can help them. The new emergency phones will use the latest technology to improve communication to provide support to people who need help."
(KMcA/SP)
The plan is part of a £20 million project to replace old phones. The government said that the new phones will provide a better service to road users, particularly those with special needs, and that they would reduce the level of background traffic noise.
In order to make the phones easier to use in noisy location and for the hearing impaired, a loud siren and flashing light will signal that the phone is ringing on the roadside.
The operator will also be able to activate a text display and answer questions with tick and cross buttons.
Users will be given a choice of languages through a text facility with preset questions; the preset responses will be sent back in the selected language.
The government said that the design of the new phones was easier to maintain and was more cost effective as the phones check themselves for faults and reports them, requiring fewer inspections.
The phones' power supply will be supplemented by solar energy.
The phones will be connected to one of the Agency's seven regional control centres which manage traffic on the strategic road network. Some new phones have already been installed on roads in Kent, Essex and Nottinghamshire. The project will continue from Kent along the motorways towards Bristol and then up to Manchester, working its way around England over the next three years.
Commenting on the new phones, Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman said: "Emergency roadside telephones are a vital connection between people experiencing problems on the motorway and the Highways Agency staff who can help them. The new emergency phones will use the latest technology to improve communication to provide support to people who need help."
(KMcA/SP)
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