Learning in both directions

The course ran smoothly, with plenty of questions, interaction and debate from delegates. The depth of discussion continued through to the final assessment, with delegates producing detailed and well-reasoned answers.

For our trainers, it was as much a learning experience as a teaching one, providing valuable insight into a part of UK policing and traffic management that isn’t often seen from the outside.

That two-way engagement came through clearly in the feedback shared with us following the course. Delegates highlighted the relevance of the content to their roles, as well as the practical value of the guidance and examples covered during the training.

The course also demonstrated the importance of adapting training to reflect local legislation and operational requirements. An Inspector within the Road Policing Development Unit highlighted the team’s approach to meeting the specific needs of delegates in Northern Ireland:

“All I can add is that the team were fantastic to deal with and made every effort to ensure that our needs were covered, especially with the differences in legislation in Northern Ireland.”

Inspector, Road Policing Development Unit

What the training covers

Each course gives delegates a grounding in the legislation behind TROs, their uses and their practical applications. Delegates come away with a clear understanding of the legal basis and procedures for making Traffic Regulation Orders and similar orders, along with an insight into the issues that most commonly give rise to challenges. Discussion and shared experience run through every session, so delegates leave with practical knowledge as well as theory.

No two courses are the same. Each authority has its own priorities, whether that is writing TROs from scratch or applying them in practice, for example in parking enforcement, so the content is shaped around what each group of delegates needs most.

A growing digital dimension

TRO training has become increasingly relevant with the shift towards digital TRO networks. One of the authorities we worked with had already transferred its full TRO record to a digital network, supported by a vehicle fitted with semi-autonomous enforcement systems.

Digital TRO networks are also expected to play a growing role as self-driving taxis and vehicles become more common, making this an area authorities will need to keep developing expertise in.

Getting the Legal Framework Right

The starting point was understanding Jersey’s highway legislation. Unlike highway authorities in England and Wales, which have a statutory duty to maintain the highway, Jersey’s authorities have powers to maintain it. Although subtle, this distinction has significant implications for decision-making, enforcement and the way maintenance responsibilities are applied in practice. In this respect, Jersey’s legislative framework has more in common with Scottish road law than with that of England and Wales.

Learning Through Experience

The four-day programme brought together senior highway engineers, highway inspectors, structures and design specialists, newly appointed engineers and representatives from the Parish Councils. That breadth of experience generated worthwhile discussion, with delegates sharing perspectives from strategic highway management through to local community infrastructure.

One of the most valuable conversations centred on enforcement. Delegates openly discussed the difference between having legislative powers and being able to apply them effectively in practice. Those real-world conversations provided valuable insight into the day-to-day realities faced by highway professionals and are exactly the type of learning and knowledge-sharing that a generic, off-the-shelf training course cannot replicate.