Highways England: Take extra care at roadworks to save lives

Highways England has revealed new research and video that it says show the dangers of drivers not paying attention through roadworks.

Road workers have reported around 6,500 incidents of drivers going through cones and into roadworks sites over three years – an average of 175 a month.

To mark Road Safety Week (16-22 November), Highways England is encouraging road users to take more care and has released CCTV footage showing vehicles careering into work sites.

Highways England said other examples include drivers veering into the cones or following works vehicles into the roadworks.

It is asking drivers to:

• respect road workers – slow down near road works and obey speed limits and signs.
• consider that just because workers aren’t visible, it doesn’t mean they are not present. Many operations take place at night, but also applies when visibility is restricted by works vehicles and equipment.

Roads minister Baroness Vere said: ‘Our road workers are key to ensuring Britain’s road network runs smoothly and keeps us connected. Careless and reckless driving not only puts them at risk, but also other road users.'

Amey Highways managing director James Haluch said: ‘In 2019, in Amey alone we recorded 753 vehicles driving into our road closures. Worse still, one of our roadworks vehicles is driven into every four or so months.

‘Each one of these results in injuries to our people and it is generally the case that the physical injuries heal far quicker than the mental health ones. A few moments lapse of concentration could be life changing, please give the road your full attention, particularly through roadworks where there may be a temporary change to the road layout.’