Traffic management and control
Information about how we manage and control the movement of traffic
Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC)
The aim of the Traffic Management team is to promote the safe and prompt movement of live traffic across Oxfordshire, encompassing active travel, bus services, and all other forms of vehicular traffic, including freight.
We collaborate with multiple organisations, including Thames Valley Police, National Highways, and Emergency response teams, and benefit from close working relationships with key stakeholders such as BBC Oxford and local bus companies.
We monitor traffic using CCTV, third-party-provided vehicle data, and information from the public and external stakeholders, all of which are cross-checked and confirmed to build the most accurate picture of the road network possible. We use this information to inform the implementation of plans to ease congestion, including changes to traffic signal timings at M40 Junction 9, Hinksey Hill and Botley Interchange junctions.
UTMC and you
As well as monitoring traffic, we are also responsible for communicating any impacts of roadworks, incidents, and events to the public and other groups. Our primary tool to interface with the public is our X (Twitter) page OxonTravel (OxonTravel (@OxonTravel) / X), where up-to-date information on traffic incidents and events county-wide can be found. We also use a number of variable message signs (VMS) and real-time bus (RTI) information displays for these purposes.
CCTV
CCTV is one of the most vital assets we have.
Why we use CCTV: CCTV is used with other data to interpret traffic conditions on roads across the county accurately.
CCTV may also be used to visually confirm traffic conditions and causes of disruptions, such as broken-down vehicles.
Our CCTV is processed for the purposes of incident and traffic management, and the legal basis for processing any personal information captured by the system(s) falls within Article 6 (1) (e) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation—it is carried out in the public interest to monitor the network's safe and efficient operation. UTMC employees are the only people who have access to this information.
Images from these cameras are stored securely for 30 days. Files can only be released on request by law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, or a court of law within 96 hours of a specific incident as required under the Data Protection Act or another legal process. Note that bus stop snapshots are also available for 30 days.
Please note that all cameras are used for traffic monitoring purposes only.