A recent court prosecution is a win for road worker safety

8 years ago


A driver has been prosecuted for dangerous driving through road works in Dorset. The incident happened on the A30/A35. The driver ignored road closure signs and drove his car onto the verge, doing several 90 degree turns, to get around a truck with flashing lights parked across the road. He then proceeded to drive at 30 mph through the night works into a busy area where road workers were laying, checking and re-lining new tarmac. He narrowly missed a worker who was crouched down undertaking a test on the road surface and acted in a belligerent way when a senior supervisor tried to intervene.

 

The workers took down the cars registration and reported the incident to the police who pressed charges against the driver. The driver received an eighteen month ban and was ordered to undertake 100 hours of unpaid community work.

 

Balfour Beatty Project Manager David May said,

“I am pleased to see that the Court has taken this matter seriously and handed down a significant sanction. It was fortunate that no one was killed or seriously injured during this incident.

Drivers should be aware that the traffic management is placed for their and our workers protection. Failing to comply with the traffic management can lead to serious consequences for the driver and also for our workers who are relying on the cones and signs to provide a safe working environment.

Drivers should also note that road workers are carrying out work to ensure that they can safely use the roads in the future.

Thanks go to our workforce who reported the incident and were prepared to come forward and provide the evidence that led to this conviction. There was also great support from the local management to provide assistance and information whenever required.” 

 

South West Highway’s Safety Manager Tim Pegler said;

“It is remarkable that no-one on site was badly injured or worse. The action of our agent to protect his mates goes beyond what our people should have to do in the course of their work.

An RAC Foundation survey found that 80 per cent of road workers had been physically or verbally abused by motorists and 40 per cent are abused at least on a weekly basis. We need the profile of these shocking facts to be raised so that people recognise that roads sometimes have to be closed to protect our workers when they are simply doing their jobs. Closing roads to protect our people isn’t an optional thing, it’s essential.”

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