Highways Agency

Purpose of the Study

This research is to inform the overall strategy towards roadworkers' safety and identify drivers' perceptions of roadworks and roadworkers, particularly in emergency works. Roadworkers include the AA, RAC, grass cutters, Traffic Officers and those maintaining the roads.

Road users were consulted via six focus groups, three held in Manchester and three near Bristol. Three types of road users were identified for participation: limited / secondary users; intensive business / work related users; and young inexperienced male drivers.

The full report is available for download in PDF format.

Roadworkers' Safety Report Phase One - April 2006 (681 KB PDF)

Awareness of and Attitudes towards Roadworkers

Most respondents described roadworkers by describing their duties, rather than knowing job titles. The majority understood roadworkers to include those maintaining the roads.

With regards to maintenance and repairs workers:

all users were aware of these workers' role and felt it important;
many feel frustrated with roadworkers / the Highways Agency when they see roadworks / roadworkers;
many complained about roads being closed/coned off without seeing work taking place; and
all types of user felt negatively towards roadworkers when their journey is held up, especially at busy times.

With regard to vehicle recovery:

respondents were aware of vehicle recovery personnel and felt they fulfil an important role; and
in the main, vehicle recovery personnel were accepted on the road. With regard to grass cutters and landscapers:
all users were aware of grass cutters and landscapers and of their role; and
many, but not all respondents, felt that these workers play an important role. With regard to traffic officers:
A large number of respondents were unsure of Traffic Officers' role; and
once the role was described, all groups felt they were important.

Roadworker and Driver Safety

Roadworker Safety

There was a difference in opinion regarding roadworker safety:

most limited and intensive users were concerned about roadworker safety, because they felt that cones provide little protection;
young inexperienced males appeared dismissive of workers’ safety. They felt that cones give enough protection; roadworkers should take responsibility for themselves; roadworkers choose this occupation; and adequate training should be supplied to ensure their safety;
most respondents stated they change their behaviour when driving through roadworks for either their own or roadworkers safety; and
young inexperienced males reported lane changing and increasing speed at roadworkers to avoid delay.

Driver Safety

all users reported knowing how to drive safely at roadworks; and
young inexperienced male drivers’ comments suggest that this knowledge does not always result in safe driving behaviour.

Highways Agency Guidelines for Driving Safely at Road Works

respondents were not aware of the Highways Agency guidelines but when they read them they thought they were common sense; and
respondents felt that over confidence, complacency, desire to reach their destination and the impact of driving slowly on fuel costs all impede safe driving.

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.