Drivers are being urged to take extra care and obey speed limits when driving through roadworks to prevent deaths and injuries to road users and workers. A special 'Respect' video has been relaunched by the Highways Agency to get the message across.

Eight road workers have been killed in the last three years and there are many near misses with members of the public driving through coned off areas or colliding with works vehicles.

The call from the Highways Agency comes as it expects increased roadworks following Government's decision to invest additional funds in improvements across the network to reduce congestion, boost economic growth and improve safety.

Drivers approaching road works are being asked to:

• keep within the speed limit;
• not switch lanes;
• look at the road ahead and not the works;
• watch out for works traffic leaving or entering site;
• keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front; 
• observe and comply with the signs and be alert for road workers – "the roads are their workplace".

Roads Minister Stephen Hammond said: "It is absolutely essential that all road users play their part when driving through roadworks and keep within the signed speed limit. Those few seconds you might save by travelling too fast could cost lives."

Director of network delivery and development for the Highways Agency Derek Turner said: "Road workers do a difficult and dangerous job carrying out vital work to keep our roads safe and well maintained. But they face danger every day when working close to fast moving traffic, in all weather conditions and often at night.

"Speed limits, cones and narrow lanes are there to keep road users safe as well as provide a safe area for workers, often enabling us to keep roads open when essential work takes place. These measures smooth out the flow of traffic, give drivers more warning of hazards and reduce the risk of collisions involving road users and workers."

To see the Respect video go to www.youtube.com/HighwaysAgency

* Are you or your company involved in any new roadworker safety initiative? If so, we would like to hear from you. Please contact Mike Walter on 01892 553148 or email mike@transportation-mag.com

Still: Highways Agency

To return to the newsletter, please close this window.