New Highway Closure Vehicles Introduced to Improve Safety During Roadworks

Highway equipment manufacturer King Highway Products has launched a new generation of Enhanced Mobile Carriageway Closure (EMCC) vehicles designed to improve safety for both roadworkers and motorists during traffic management operations.

The specialist vehicles are intended to create protected, traffic-free working zones while temporary traffic management measures are installed or removed on live roads. By providing a secure buffer between work crews and moving traffic, the technology aims to reduce risk and improve operational efficiency.

A key feature of the new EMCC fleet is the integration of advanced digital monitoring systems developed in partnership with Race Technology. The system links the protected work area with vehicles operating further upstream as part of rolling road closures and provides immediate alerts if an unauthorised vehicle enters the restricted area.

The vehicles are also equipped with police-approved Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera systems. These cameras can record incidents where drivers breach traffic management restrictions and may support enforcement action where appropriate. Combined with additional rear-mounted signage, the vehicles can also be deployed in a camera enforcement role.

King Highway Products has initially produced a fleet of eight EMCC vehicles, all of which are available through the company's rental division, King Rental.

The short-term hire model has been introduced to allow traffic management contractors to trial the technology without committing to significant upfront investment, enabling organisations to assess operational benefits before making longer-term decisions.

James Richmond, Managing Director of King Group, said the company remains focused on developing solutions that improve safety across the road network.

He explained that the combination of specialist vehicle engineering and digital technology provides traffic management teams with greater flexibility and confidence when implementing road closures and other temporary traffic measures.

The launch reflects the increasing emphasis being placed on worker safety within the highways sector, where incursions into temporary work zones remain a significant concern. Industry leaders continue to explore new technologies that can improve protection for crews while helping maintain safe and efficient traffic flows during maintenance and construction activities.

The new EMCC vehicles are expected to support a range of roadwork operations across the UK as contractors seek more advanced methods of managing live carriageway environments.