A dangerous rise in drivers ignoring roadwork closures to skip queues is putting lives at risk, according to new analysis from National Highways.
There is growing concern across the road transport sector around incursions- the name given to incidents where a vehicle enters a closed-off section of roadworks because of the danger to roadworkers.
Across all regions in England, a total of 1,633 incursions were recorded across England’s motorways and major A roads last year. While the majority were linked to drivers deliberately entering restricted roadwork areas to gain a benefit, other incidents involved factors such as breakdowns or unintentional incursions.
National Highways recorded 814 incursions between January and July, of which 53% involved motorists “seeking benefit” by entering restricted areas. Around 30 incursions are being reported each week, while at least one person has died in an incursion-related incident this year.
Melanie Clarke OBE, Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at National Highways, said:
“These figures show a worrying number of drivers wilfully ignoring roadworks to save time, putting roadworkers and other people at risk. Our roadworkers have the right to carry out repairs and improvements safely and we ask all drivers to follow signed routes and never enter restricted areas.”
In some cases, these incidents are leading to roads being completely closed, to avoid workers being put in danger. This is adding time onto journeys.
Recently, following a series of particularly close calls, a section of the M1 in Hertfordshire was closed completely to keep workers safe, which meant drivers had a 10-mile diversion.
Sinead Ryan, Traffic Management Foreman for HW Martin, said:
“People don’t always realise how dangerous our job can be. We work close to live traffic and, while we can do everything possible to keep ourselves safe, we can’t control the actions of drivers.
“When someone ignores a closure or drives into a work area, it only takes a second for someone to get hurt. There are real people working behind those cones and all we’re trying to do is get home safely at the end of the day.”
(File picture – National Highways)