Police test GPS road crash software

The Highways Agency is using GPS technology with Surrey and Warwickshire police to help increase their efficiency when dealing with road accidents. The data will be sent directly to the handheld PCs that officers are currently using.

Ginny Clarke, the Highways Agency`s chief engineer, said: “We hope that by using innovative new technology we will able to cut the time the police spend on vital investigations, get traffic moving again more quickly, and reduce congestion for England`s motorways and major roads.”

Lane closures after accidents are blamed for a quarter of all congestion as police take time to survey the area, followed by the Highways Agency moving in to make any repairs. The three-month trial will use Ordnance Survey data to pinpoint the accident location along with any other information that the police will require.