Scanning Kit to Cut Jams in Thames Valley

29 December 2011, 05:00 | Updated: 29 December 2011, 07:08

Road accident investigators in the Thames Valley and Hampshire are getting new scanning equipment that means they won't have to close motorways for hours after a crash.

They're getting £400,000 from the Government after bidding for the cash as part of a £2.7 million deal - more than 20 other forces will also benefit.

The technology saves time by quickly making a 3D image of the whole crash site, rather than investigators painstakingly surveying multiple sections of a scene.

This digital image of the site can then be viewed on a computer screen remotely, allowing investigators to take measurements of where vehicles are in relation to each other and examine other important evidence.

Roads Minister Mike Penning said

"There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck in a traffic jam for hours on end.  But even worse than that is the shocking £1 billion cost of those lost hours for our economy.

"That is why we are determined to improve the clear-up of accidents so we can get our motorways re-opened as quickly as possible."

Thames Valley and Hampshire's combined roads unit are getting the most with money for 5 scanners.