Who are they???

[Abdulmajid]

On stretches of A roads or on the corner of a roundabout (if that is not an oxymoron) who are the people sitting on deckchairs with their lumo jacket and clip boards?

I assume they are counting traffic but who do they work for??

Highways?? Police?? DVLA??

They people are often old and have ruddy faces.

Their mere presence does annoy me, it must be said.

[Ethel]

They could be working for a number of authorities - there are a number of independent companies that carry out these surveys, such as this one:

http://www.trafficsurveys.co.uk/services.php#1

They are used to help councils decide if a road needs widening; or traffic lights or a roundabout; or speed restriction; or weight restriction; or speed humps; or strengthening.

Monitoring traffic can also help with air quality issues; parking restriction planning; pedestrian needs such as a bridge or a pelican crossing.

They may be recording the number of foreign licence plates.

Emergency services also need this information so they can plan strategies for getting to an emergency.

Why they annoy you, I don't know.

[Abdulmajid]

They annoy me Ethel because they sit there with their ruddy faces and flasks of tea with omnipresent frowns.

But thank you for your detailed answer.

[Hymie]

Many years ago, I took part in a traffic survey in the city that I lived. We were instructed to record the registration number of all vehicles (heading in one direction) ending in either 0 or 5 over a set two hour period.

I was one of a number strategically placed on the main roads of the city. We were told that the information would be used to determine the routes taken by 20% of the vehicles through the city during the survey period � which would help traffic planners.

[eyebrows]

thats sounds pretty pointless

[redcrx]

around our way at the moment i see a lot. They are often there to direct cyclists who are out racing as we see signs along the stretch of road.

[Hymie]

Not at all pointless � I seem to recall being well paid for my 2 hours.