Highways England is urging motorists to drive carefully through roadworks as new research and video footage demonstrates the dangers of not paying attention.
Latest data shows road workers have reported around 6,500 incidents over three years of drivers going through cones and into roadworks sites, an average of 175 a month.
Highways England, the Government company responsible for the country’s motorways and major A roads has released CCTV footage showing vehicles careering into roadworks sites, putting drivers and roadworks in danger. The company is also encouraging road users to take care in roadworks.
“We appreciate drivers get frustrated by roadworks but also that they understand the need for them, to keep families connected and the country in business,” said Mark Byard, Director of Health and Safety at Highways England. “Each month we have around 175 reports of vehicles driving into roadworks, putting both road users and our roadworkers at risk. When you are driving through roadworks, please pay close attention and keep everyone safe.”
The collection of CCTV clips include a driver ignoring a road closure only to find that the road was closed to allow a crane to dismantle a bridge.
Highways England is asking road users to slow down near road works and obey speed limits and signs, remembering that, just because workers aren’t visible, it doesn’t mean they are not present.
