Driver care urged to protect road-workers

The Highways agency has urged motorists to slow down and take extra care at roadworks following a sharp increase in deaths of road-workers this year.

So far this year, four workers have died and five have been seriously injured in incidents across England.

The recent upward trend in incidents in England is a reverse in a period of decline in such accidents in the preceding two years. In 2004, there was one death and 17 serious injuries and in 2003 there were two deaths and 10 serious injuries.

Recently released HSE figures for road-worker deaths across the whole country have revealed a similar trend. In the whole of 2004, the HSE investigated four incidents, but this figure has already been reached in just seven months this year.

Derek Turner, the Agency's Traffic Operations Director, said that road-workers on the motorways and major 'A' roads were a "vulnerable group."

He said: "Everyone is entitled to a safe workplace, yet road workers risk death and injury at work every day, often working at night, making sure our roads remain safe and in good condition.

"We appeal to drivers to slow down when approaching roadworks and obey the signs and speed limits which are there to ensure the safety of workers and drivers."

An Agency "Safety at Roadworks" campaign, which was first launched in 2001, urges six simple precautions when drivers are approaching roadworks:

• Keep within the speed limit - it is there for your safety;
• Get into the correct lane in good time - don't keep switching;
• Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks;
• Be alert for works traffic leaving or entering roadworks;
• Keep a safe distance - there could be queues in front;
• Observe all signs - they are there to help you.

Since 2000, 16 road-workers have lost their lives while working on the road network, and of these deaths, 12 were the result of a worker being struck by a vehicle.

A Highways Agency safety advice leaflet called: 'Driving Through Roadworks' is available.

(SP)