§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist for police escorting slow-moving loads on motorways, with special reference to whether single police vehicles should drive in the inside lane behind the slow-moving vehicle. [9401]
§ Mr. MacleanThe precise procedure adopted for the escorting of abnormal loads is an operational matter for chief officers of police. But guidelines on the escorting of abnormal loads on motorways are contained in the police service's "National Motorway Manual", which has been issued to forces by the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
The guidelines advise that police vehicles should be positioned not less than 50 m to the rear of the load and occupy a complete lane. In normal circumstances the lane the police vehicle occupies will be determined by the width of the load. Loads which project into the second or middle lane will normally be followed by a police vehicle in that lane.