Highways Agency

Improving Roadworker Safety

With regard to providing more information:

• respondents were supportive of receiving more information;
• many believed information currently provided is often inaccurate and out of date;
• most were supportive of Variable Message Signs (VMS) to inform drivers about roadworks, but some felt they cause congestion as drivers are slow to read and digest them;
• there was mixed reaction to advisory/temporary speed limit signs; and
• users were less supportive of displaying vehicles' speed entering roadworks.

In relation to enforcement of safe driving:

• respondents felt enforcement would be effective; and
• the police, safety camera partnerships and Traffic Officers were all mentioned as possible enforcers.

With regard to publicity and education:

• many users, particularly young inexperienced males, felt publicity measures would be useful. They suggested publicising facts and figures about accidents on television, at the roadside or on the radio;
• many users were supportive of educational measures although young inexperienced male drivers were less supportive;
• respondents felt that current training and testing is not adequate for motorway driving; and
• many supported adding a motorway test into the current one, taking motorway driving lessons or introducing a motorway driving test.