Roadworks safety

Footage reveals dangers of not paying attention in roadworks

Barbour EHS

Highways England has urged motorists to drive carefully through roadworks as it reveals new research and shocking footage that show 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. And it is encouraging road users to take care in roadworks.

Mark Byard, Director of Health and Safety at Highways England says: “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. 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 one of a driver ignoring a road closure only to find that the road was closed to allow a crane to dismantle a bridge.

Other examples show how a lack of concentration can lead to drivers veering into the cones or even following roadworks vehicles into the roadworks.

Highways England plans maintenance and improvement projects to allow works to proceed in the safest and most cost-effective way, with minimum disruption to road users.

Highways England advises road users 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.

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