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17 August 2005 - Slow Down for Roadworkers
Safety
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In light of the latest figures released from the Highways Agency
showing a sharp rise in the number of deaths of construction roadworkers, the
Highways Agency are urging drivers to slow down near roadworks, in order to
prevent deaths and serious injuries.
It must be remembered that roadworkers are providing a safety
service to the motorist. They repair road-surfaces for our
safety, extend roads to make our journeys more comfortable and less stressful
and yet we do not abide by the speed restrictions asked of us for only a short
time.
Perhaps we do not consider the fact that speed restrictions are
put in place at roadworks for the safety of not only drivers and their
passengers, but also for the safety of the men working at these points.
Will arriving at our destinations five minutes later cause our death?
Forgoing five minutes of our time may give a lifetime.
The Highways Agency figures for motorway and "A" roads in
England are as follows:
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Figures have risen in the first half of 2005 after two years of
decline.
-
So far this year, four workers have died.
-
There have been five serious injuries in incidents on the
Highways Agency's routes in England.
- This compares to 1 death and 17 serious injuries on the Highways Agency's
network in 2004. There were 2 deaths and 10 serious injuries in 2003.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures for roadworker deaths across
the UK show a similar trend. The HSE investigated only 4 incidents
in 2004. However, there have been 4 incidents so far in 2005 in
seven months since January.
Mr. Derek Turner, the Highways Agency's Traffic Operations Director,
commented:
"Roadworkers on the motorways and major 'A' roads are a vulnerable group
of workers. 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."
Operating Group Director for Mouchel Parkman, Mr. David Virden, said:
"Mouchel Parkman is involved with managing six of the Highways Agency's
maintenance areas. Our staff perform essential works every day to ensure roads
and bridges are maintained and kept safe for everyone.
"We are dedicated to enhancing the safety of our workforce. This is a
continual process and we do this through very specific, detailed training and
provision of the correct vehicles and safety equipment.
"However, we are unable to control the actions of the travelling public.
Increasingly, our workforces are experiencing dangerous actions by drivers."
Mr.Scott Millar, Service Director of Amey, also commented:
"Amey strongly support all campaigns which encourage safer driving
through roadworks. We believe that stressing the importance of respecting
speed restrictions, maintaining lane discipline and staying out of coned off
lanes will help to protect our colleagues at their place of work."
The Highway Agency's "Safety at Roadworks" campaign, launched in 2001,
provides 6 simple messages as to how drivers can stop injury and death to
roadworkers as follows:
- 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.
How nice it would be when returning home from a journey to think
we perhaps saved lives by our attention to speed limits and signage at roadworks.
How awful, if upon arriving home, we had the dreadful task of
telling our families we took lives for the sake of five minutes. A
child losing it's Father, a Wife losing her Husband, a Mother losing her Son.
All because we, the inconsiderate driver, didn't slow down in order to
save just five minutes.
Further information can be obtained from the Highways Agency
website by clicking the following:
Highways Agency Website
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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