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umpston · August 20th 03, 12:35 PM posted to uk.transport.london,misc.transport.road

(Kate) wrote in message . com...
Hi. this is the first time i have posted a message to an email group
so forgive me if I make mistakes. I am a writer and have recently
heard about the possibility of mega traffic jams in the UK possibly
caused by a few freak combinations of events. this intrigued me and I
thought (as writers do!) of using this scenario as part of a novel.
However before I get carried away... i need to reseach this issue.
Does anyone know where I can find out more about the formation of
traffic jams, what might happen in a mega traffic jam etc?
thanking you
Regards
Kate

If you intend to write specifically about London one thing worth
thinking about might be the 'London Traffic Control Centre' (LTTC).
Quoting from TfL's website this is "a central control point, staffed
by the Metropolitan Police and TfL Street Management staff to: monitor
network conditions; process, integrate and analyse data; introduce
contingency traffic signal timings; direct police to specific problem
areas and disseminate traffic information to public and media. The
team also manages the installation of VMS, CCTV and Enforcement
cameras."

At the time the Congestion Charge came in the LTTC was tasked
principally to keep traffic moving on the Ring Road, just outside the
ccharge zone, in the event of major congestion caused by the charge.
This congestion didn't happen at that time but I believe they are
prepared for many other eventualities with a large pile of contingency
plans.