Every two minutes last year there was an incident on the country's 2,025 miles motorways that required Highways Agency traffic officers to attend.

The officers deal with routine incidents, such as managing the traffic and clearing up after road crashes, removing dangerous debris from the carriageway and checking the welfare of anyone who has broken down.

However, they also cover extraordinary emergencies such as last October when they helped rescue 40 pensioners whose coach was stuck in snow.

In July, they helped 70 school children and their teachers who were forced to abandon their double-decker after it caught fire on the M20.

New powers will also soon allow traffic officers to remove and dispose of vehicles abandoned on main roads.

The regulations, which will be rolled out during 2009 will give them similar powers to the police to authorise the removal of broken down or abandoned vehicles and vehicles causing an obstruction or danger.