Seven police forces in the Eastern Region, including Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Kent, along with the Metropolitan Police, have joined forces to streamline the movement of abnormal loads for hauliers.
This collaboration aims to facilitate smoother journeys for hauliers by coordinating load movements across county borders and towards London.
The agreement, supported by National Highways, Connect Plus (M25), and Transport for London, eliminates barriers between force jurisdictions, simplifying the transportation process.
Effective from February 5th, this initiative provides clarity and assurance to hauliers regarding major projects in the region. Hauliers must now adhere to two aligned embargo times, from 7-9 am and 4-6 pm on weekdays, to mitigate traffic congestion.
Weekends and Metropolitan Police district arrangements remain unaffected by these changes.
Sergeant Jason Dearsley, the current Chair of the Abnormal Load Officers group at Essex Police, emphasized the benefits of the collaboration:
“We anticipate that this change will offer hauliers a clearer and more defined system, simplifying route planning in the Eastern Region by extending the hours during which abnormal loads can be transported in some areas. Our commitment remains steadfast in closely collaborating with haulage organizations to ensure clarity and minimal disruption to their operations, prioritizing the safety of all road users. This partnership exemplifies our collective effort to strike a balance between maintaining economic activity and prioritizing road safety.”
