Drivers ignoring roadworks put lives at risk, National Highways warns
Hundreds of incidents recorded this year with 53% of drivers attempting to bypass queues.
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Drivers who ignore roadwork closures to bypass queues are putting lives at risk, National Highways has stated. The agency has recorded hundreds of instances this year where vehicles have been driven through cones or barriers into closed work areas.
Concerns are growing about the danger posed by these incursions into restricted roadworks. Data from National Highways shows that between January and July this year, 53% of the 814 incidents reported across England involved drivers attempting to avoid queues, closures, or diversions. This represents a worrying number of drivers wilfully disregarding roadworks to save time, according to Melanie Clarke, director of health, safety and wellbeing at National Highways.
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The agency has released footage of drivers entering closed roadwork areas to highlight the issue, which has led to successful prosecutions and driving bans. One example shown was on the M1 motorway in Hertfordshire, where repeated incursions earlier this year resulted in the motorway being fully closed to ensure worker safety, causing a 10-mile diversion for traffic. No casualties were reported in the footage released by National Highways.
On average, approximately 30 incursions per week are documented across England's motorways and major roads. While most are classified as drivers seeking a benefit, other factors such as breakdowns or simple driver error can also lead to dangerous incursions. However, Melanie Clarke noted that drivers in the latter cases typically stop quickly to seek assistance.
Clarke stated that over 400 incidents of drivers seeking benefits have been recorded this year, indicating a rise in such behaviour. She encouraged road workers to report these instances to help understand the risks they face. Drivers ignoring closures are often travelling at speed and may not be aware of the activities or machinery within the roadworks, or that the road surface may have been altered.
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At least one fatality has occurred this year as a result of these incursions, Clarke confirmed. She also stressed that roads are not closed without ongoing or imminent activity, and it is unsafe for vehicles to travel through until work is complete. Drivers attempting shortcuts are unlikely to save time, she added.
Sinead Ryan, a lead traffic management operative, commented on the inherent dangers of her job, working close to live traffic. She stated that while operatives take measures to ensure their safety, they cannot control drivers' actions. Ignoring a closure or driving into a work area can lead to injury in an instant, she warned.
What happens next
National Highways is continuing to monitor incursions and use footage to pursue prosecutions where appropriate. The agency urges drivers to respect roadwork closures and adhere to diversions to ensure the safety of road workers and other road users.
Questions this report answers
+How many incidents of drivers entering roadworks have been recorded?
National Highways has recorded hundreds of incidents this year where cars were deliberately driven through roadwork closures. Between January and July, 814 incursions were reported nationwide in England, with 53% of these involving drivers attempting to avoid queues.
+What are the consequences for drivers who ignore roadwork closures?
Drivers who ignore roadwork closures can face successful prosecutions and driving bans, as shown by footage released by National Highways. These actions also put road workers and other road users at significant risk of injury, and at least one fatality has occurred this year due to such incursions.
+Why are roads closed for roadworks?
Roads are not sealed off without some activity ongoing or imminent. Even if workers are not visible, there may be people working nearby or the road surface may have been compromised. It is therefore not safe for vehicles to travel through until the work is complete.
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