DRIVERS could find themselves stuck in rush hour jams due to new rules for moving abnormal loads, warns the AA Motoring Trust.

The Highways Agency has drafted a new code of practice in response to police moves to gradually give up their duties of escorting abnormal loads on roads in England and Wales.

However, the power to restrict the time of day the loads are moved is missing from the proposed guidelines.

Paul Watters, the head of roads and transport policy for The AA Motoring Trust, said: "We are concerned that the proposed code does not include any time restrictions.

"With more than 1.5 million abnormal loads on English and Welsh roads each year motorists do not want to be stuck behind them in rush-hour jams.

"They will want these types of loads transported when the roads are

relatively free of traffic.

"Some motorways can be reduced to a single lane in places when abnormal loads are being transported.

"And, if that is done during very busy periods, it could effectively shut the motorway by forcing the traffic to move as slowly as the load."

The new code would see hauliers notifying the police and highway authority of abnormal load or vehicle movement.