Drivers are being asked to put brakes on their anger as bureaucrats from the Department of Transport pull motorists over to ask about their driving habits.

Officials and police officers will be stopping cars on the A27, between Worthing and Southwick, to find out the best way to reduce traffic and pollution on the accident-blighted road.

The surveys are being carried out to help a joint study between the Highways Agency, the county council and the borough and district councils, requested by the Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling.

The Secretary of State rejected plans in 2003 to carry out improvements to the road, where an elderly motorist died in a crash just two weeks ago, saying the plans were too expensive and would harm the environment.

Tex Pemberton, of West Sussex County Council, said: "We see this as the best way of identifying workable solutions for the A27 trunk road, which would fit in well with transport planning objectives for Worthing Borough and Adur District."

Peter Minshull, Highways Agency network manager for Sussex and Surrey, said: "We will be doing our best to minimise delays when the survey takes place and would ask people to be patient and cooperate if they are stopped and asked a few questions about their journey. All the information will be treated in strict confidence."