English traffic officers visit pride event for the first time

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Highways Agency Traffic Officers – England’s newest uniformed service – really got into the swing of things at last weekend’s Manchester Pride event.

It was the first time that Traffic Officers had ever officially visited a pride event in England.

The Agency took a stand to the event as well as several Traffic Officers from the North West Traffic Officer Service and one of their high-visibility 4WD patrol vehicles.

The theme of the event was journey planning and as well as explaining their role.

Traffic Officers mingling with Pride-goers explained what the Highways Agency is doing to help drivers plan their journeys – including the latest edition of the popular planning atlas Think Ahead, Move Ahead and the Highways Agency’s website www.highways.gov.uk.

Traffic Officers’ job is to quickly tackle incidents which cause congestion on England’s motorways and keep drivers on the move.

Pictured is Traffic Officer Supervisor Paul Airlie who works at the Millness Outstation in Cumbria covering the M6 in the county and Manchester Pride visitor Martin Walker from Birmingham (picture by Bill Cooney, Highways Agency).

Martin told PinkNews.co.uk: “When I saw those lovely Traffic Officers standing there in their hi-vis gear next to their 4×4, I just knew I had to get a pic. What a nice bunch they are.”

Highways Agency spokesman Neil Sterio told PinkNews.co.uk: “We got a fantastic response from Pride visitors to our stand.

“Our new Traffic Officers were at the stand every day with a 4WD patrol vehicle and got a terrific response when people found out about the kind of work they are doing up and down the motorway network to keep drivers on the move.

“We also got a lot of enquiries about careers in the Traffic Officer Service which is particularly pleasing and encouraging.”

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