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T.P.D.M.V.2.3
(Al/2001)
3.410 Police Observation Platforms
3.4.10.1 Police observation platforms are raised areas provided for police vehicles to park clear of
the carriageway and hard shoulder in order to:
(i)
(ii)
monitor traffic flow;
improve surveillance procedures;
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
reduce response time to incidents on the road;
provide a police presence and thereby improve compliance by road users of traffic
regulations;
provide easy access to the main carriageway for enforcement purposes;
(vi)
provide an area off the carriageway where if necessary offending motorists can be
interviewed.
3.4.10.2 Police observation platforms should be provided at approximately 2 km intervals on each
carriageway on all Rural Trunk Roads of 5 km or more in length. A staggered arrangement
should always be adopted so that the distance between alternate platforms is normally about
1km.
3.4.10.3 The location of the platforms will need to be determined in consultation with the Police,
which should take place at an early stage in the design procedure. The exact location of the
platforms however may not be able to be agreed until the construction stage has been
reached when obstructions to visibility can be identified, and will have regard to the
following:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
additional land take over can be minimised;
where platform construction costs can be minimised e.g. at changeover points
between cuttings and embankments;
maximum unobstructed visibility in both- directions from the platform can be
provided. Visibility requirements will be related to the spacing of platforms and
where possible intervisibility between alternate platforms is advantageous. If not
possible either by reason of intervening obstructions or the spacing of platforms is
necessarily greater than that given in paragraph 3.4.10.2, a visibility distance of at
least 0.8 km in both directions is desirable and priority should be given to the
upstream view. But lesser visibility distances below 0.4 km are not acceptable ;
Where a platform is to be used in conjunction with a speed detection system,
downstream visibility can be shortened to a distance of 0.8 km.
if emergency crossings are provided, the platform should be located upstream of the
crossing to ensure that the police vehicles can safely reach it. The platform should
not however be located downstream of the emergency crossing as it involves a
manoeuvre against the flow of traffic for the police to reach the crossings;
where an emergency telephone system is provided it is advantageous to have the
platform sited near the telephone. However the telephones should not be sited within
the limits of the platform as it will encourage vehicles other than those of the police to
use the platforms;