New resources to protect the safety of road workers

The Highways Agency has produced a new information DVD to highlight why drivers, primarily those driving on business, need to watch out for the safety of road workers.

More than 4,000 road workers - approximately one for every mile of the Highways Agency's network - work to keep the roads safe and well maintained for drivers.

Voiced over by respected TV presenter Nick Ross (formerly of BBC's Crimewatch), the film highlights why drivers need to have respect for road workers and an appreciation of the consequences their actions could have. The DVD can be used to spread the messages about safely driving near road works to staff, suppliers and the public.

At the ‘Respect our Road Workers’ campaign launch on the M1 J6a to J10 widening scheme in Hertfordshire, Graham Dalton, Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, said:

"Between 2003 and 2007, ten road workers were killed and 81 were seriously injured while working on motorways and major A roads in England. One accident is one too many, and these tragic incidents are avoidable. Road workers are out there doing a job to make journeys better for road users. They work close to moving traffic every day and deserve our respect for doing so.

“Our new toolkit is about encouraging drivers to use appropriate behaviour whilst driving through roadworks, to respect those working there and to help the construction and maintenance industry to do as much as it can for them too."

The six messages for drivers near road works are:

• keep within the speed limit;
• get into the correct lane in good time;
• concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks;
• be alert for works traffic leaving or entering roadworks;
• keep a safe distance; and
• observe all signs.

For more information about the 'Respect our Road Workers' campaign, visit www.highways.gov.uk/roadworker