Commentary on Sections Part 1: Traffic Officers.Background Section 4: Powers to direct traffic officers
24.Traffic officers would be directed by or on behalf of the appropriate national authority. However, to prevent any potential conflict between their role on the ground and that of the police in dealing with traffic accidents or incidents this section empowers the police to exercise primacy. In practice, this means that the police may opt to deal with incidents themselves, with or without traffic officer support, or allow traffic officers to act without police involvement. This section also provides that where traffic officers are contracted out, the appropriate national authority may still give them direct instructions.