The footage has been taken from cameras situated within roadworks on the country’s motorways and major A roads. It is being made available in an attempt to remind drivers of the importance of driving with extra care through roadworks.
The footage includes:
- A car undertaking and pulling out in front of a lorry, causing it to swerve and overturn
- A driver failing to spot traffic slowing ahead and crashing into the back of queuing traffic
- A lorry ploughing into the back of a car, sending it crashing into a set of roadworks, feet away from working staff
Roads minister Robert Goodwill said: “The safety of those who work on our roads is paramount. Saving a few seconds on your journey is simply not worth the cost of the delays caused by these incidents, let alone the devastating impact they can have on lives and families.”
The Highways Agency has issued advice on driving safely at roadworks:
- Keep within the speed limit – it is there for your safety
- Get into the correct lane in good time
- Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks
- Be alert for works traffic leaving or entering roadworks
- Keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front
- Observe all signs – they are there to help you.
The Agency highlighted some cases of those affected by roadwork crashes.
Andy Jackson and his crew only managed to escape serious injury when a drunk driver careered through cones late at night on the M1 near Nottingham, because of the quick thinking of a colleague. Andy and his team of 15 men were busy working when the driver managed to squeeze his car past cones and a crash protection vehicle before heading onto the motorway directly at them. Thankfully his colleague Stuart Ferguson saw the car and rang to alert Andy, who was able to leap out of his own vehicle and shout to his crew just seconds before the car headed towards them. "We were so fortunate that Stuart was quick off the mark and rang to warn me, otherwise he could easily have ploughed into us all."
