Road User Voice – February 2016 – Road user director’s editorial
02 February 2016
In January we carried out research into road users’ views about roadside facilities, including motorway service areas. This Road User Voice has an update on the project, including a ‘behind-the-scenes view’ of how we collect feedback. We’ve appointed a research agency for our delays and disruption research and they’ll be talking to road users in different parts of England to understand experiences – we have an article about this too.
Just before Christmas, we headed for Kent to understand more about developments with Operation Stack and any successor arrangements. This included a visit to the former Manston Airport that has been temporarily converted to a lorry holding area for when issues arise on the cross-channel ferries and trains. You can read the full story here.
As part of our continuing development work on the new road user survey, we’ve been to meet the Driver & Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea. We had useful discussions about how it can help us deliver what is needed – work on developing our pilot of the new survey continues.
Other things we’ve been up to in January include continuing to spread the message about road users’ priorities – I’ve spoken to the senior managers in two of Highways England’s key directorates. We’ve also responded to the consultation about managing freight traffic through Kent (and have more work planned); we’ve provided input to the House of Commons Transport Committee’s Inquiry into al- lane running; and we’ve raised concerns with Highways England about the quality of information provided to road users about scheduled roadworks on the network.
Finally, our minds are turning to potential areas of research in 2016/17. There are some clear candidates already, some driven by the timetable for development of the second Road Investment Strategy (which will cover the years 2020-25). But we’re always interested in road users’ views about the issues we should be investigating – if you have a suggestion please get in touch!
Guy Dangerfield
Road User Director
guy.dangerfield@transportfocus.org.uk
