Highly respected Traffic Group boss passes away

A well-known and highly respected member of the Gloucestershire business community has died.

Peter (Pete) Hutchinson, Managing Director of The Traffic Group, passed away on May 30, 2024 following a short illness. He is survived by his wife Rachel and their three children Kerrie, Ciara and Conor, brother Phil and his parents Mike and Hilary.

A Chartered Physicist, Pete co-founded AGD Systems Limited in 1991 with his father Mike, and his uncle Mark. Pete was the motivating force for the advancement of AGD’s radar detection technologies, their application in the Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) market, and the international expansion of the business. He successfully led AGD to its current prominent position in the ITS sector.

Under his AGD Systems leadership, Pete was involved in several strategic acquisitions, leading to the formation of The Traffic Group, and was instrumental in the award of several patents and three Queens Awards for Innovation. His commitment to building a sustainable business was also recognised with two Green Apple awards for environmental best practice. His approach to continuous improvement enabled his employees to thrive, creating a dynamic and highly collaborative workplace where everyone is valued.

One of his greatest joys, after his family, was his work, often remarking “if you enjoy your job, you never work a day in your life!”

Pete was a widely respected figure with the industry, having brought about positive change through working within TOPAS to revise specifications for industry products, and more recently a leading author in the latest temporary traffic signal guidance for the traffic management sector. He was driven by a purpose to make products, roadside installations and road works safer and more efficient for road users, road workers and the general public.

Outside of work, Pete was a passionate cyclist, having won several national and international competitions in cyclo-cross. He had an unbounded enthusiasm for motorsports, reflected in his choice of cars which were his pride and joy. A considerate, quick-witted and intelligent man, Pete was popular within his local community and will be greatly missed by all who knew and worked with him.

The Traffic Group remains a family business, in the hands of Mike, Mark, Phil and Maxine Hutchinson, and continuity plans are in place to minimise disruption to its customers and partners.