There seems to be a preponderance of vans with emergency style markings cropping up recently with "Incident Support Unit" emblazoned across the side. These appear very dramatic and tend to proliferate in the early hours hinting at some accident black spot where this team of dedicated professionals are on hand to lend assistance at a crash scene perhaps from diverting traffic to removing any wreckage.
   Now I know that Chris Rea sang about the A19 being the "Road to Hell" but I have not seen that many accidents on my daily commute even if the Incident Support Unit are highly efficient. Suspicions that this group may have exaggerated the job description grew when spotting a few employees cutting the verges and picking up litter and noticing, also wrote on the van but in smaller writing and at the bottom of the rear doors: "Highway Maintenance". I am not trying to dismiss this as a trivial job only that the title seems specifically designed to make them appear more glamourous but actually sounds misleading. Surely it is only one small step away from the full Americanization of ISU complete with accompanying TV series:
   Steve Zoom is the maverick ex cop who doesn't play by the rules. As team leader he is responsible for patrolling the highways of Teesside to make sure that commuters can get to work safely. Tiffany Blonde is his assistant who, when not pouting seductively at Steve, helps motivate the rest of the team. Together they will clear up that bit of broken taillight from the inside lane of the A689.