King Highway – New Enhanced Mobile Carriageway Closure vehicles are rolled out to boost safety on the highways network

Importantly, King Highway is making the technology immediately accessible to the wider industry through short-term hire options via its own rental division ‘King Rental’.

By offering the vehicles on a daily hire basis, traffic management providers can deploy and evaluate the EMCC technique without the financial commitment of purchasing dedicated vehicles, helping to accelerate adoption of a proven safety solution across the sector.

The EMCC’s Advanced digital technology, developed in partnership with Race Technology, actively connects the work area to the EMCC vehicles upstream carrying out the rolling block, and alerts crews instantly if an unauthorised vehicle breaches the closure, providing an extra layer of safety in high-risk environments.

The vehicles are fitted with Police Approved ANPR camera systems enabling a successful prosecution if the block is breached. This, when in conjunction with the standard third rear sign face, enables the vehicles to be used as camera enforcement vans.

The fully independent system meets all GG117 operational requirements and has been engineered with resilience in mind, capable of connecting simultaneously to two separate mobile networks via independent SIM cards. This ensures a reliable connection between all units, even in challenging operating conditions.

Should an unauthorised vehicle enter a closure, the system instantly alerts operatives both inside the vehicle and within the work zone. A cab-mounted interface allows crews to monitor and manage the system through a simple menu-driven platform, while an emergency alarm function can immediately transmit warnings to connected devices on site.

EMCC vehicle and on-site incursion warning device

Optional wearable alarm units, operating over licence-free radio frequencies, provide an additional layer of protection for operatives working within the closure.

The technology has also been designed to support a wide range of operational scenarios, with the capability to connect and manage up to 16 units simultaneously. Through an online user portal, operators can access detailed system information and performance data, while incident records can be reviewed using court-approved analysis software where required.

To ensure reliability in the field, the system is housed within a robust enclosure designed specifically for the traffic management sector and offers up to 84 hours of standby operation or 20 hours of continuous live use from its internal batteries. It can also be powered via an external supply when required.

James Richmond, Managing Director of King Group, said:

“We’re committed to supporting our customers to staying safe while working on the network. By combining expert engineering with innovative technology, we’ve created a solution that gives traffic management teams more options and greater confidence when deploying this technique.

“Our flexible, short-term hire approach enables traffic management providers to experience using the technology and experience its benefits without the need for upfront long-term investment, positioning themselves to make more informed decisions on utilising EMCC in the future.””

With safety remaining a top priority across the industry, the launch of the King EMCC gives operators a new flexible alternative and marks a significant step forward in protecting workforces and improving operational efficiency on the UK’s roads.

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