Introduction and Methodology

The Highways Agency is interested in knowing why drivers speed at roadworks and what initiatives could be put in place to improve safety at roadworks.

MVA therefore conducted an attitudinal survey with higher risk drivers (those who have attended a driver improvement or speed awareness course in order to avoid penalty points on their licence) and those whose work is to bring about that improvement ("improvement professionals").

This quantitative research was informed by qualitative telephone interviews with higher risk drivers and improvement professionals and desk research.

The full report is available for download in PDF format.

Roadworkers' Safety Report Phase Two - July 2006 (490 KB PDF)

Introduction and Methodology

Attitudes towards roadworkers

The majority (87%) of higher risk drivers agreed that roadworkers play a valuable role.

Younger drivers were less likely to feel that the roadworkers' role is very valuable compared to those aged 35 and over (37% of those aged 16-24, 51% of those aged 35-59 and 63% of those aged 60+).

Only a small percentage of drivers reported feeling stressed, angry or annoyed when they see roadworks on major roads. The majority stated that they feel accepting (56%) or indifferent (20%), demonstrating their recognition that they are necessary. However 16% did report feeling frustrated, which could lead to dangerous driving behaviour. In addition, younger drivers were more likely to state that they would feel angry or annoyed, although the percentage is still small (7%).

Attitudes towards roadworkers' safety

The majority of higher risk drivers were worried about roadworkers’ safety, always (37%) or sometimes (48%).

Younger drivers were less likely to be always concerned (26%) about roadworkers’ safety and more likely to say that they are rarely concerned (23%).

Over three quarters of higher risk drivers (76%) had not read a copy of the Highways Agency’s Driving Safely at Roadworks Guidelines. Our qualitative research indicates that this is likely to be because they are unaware of its existence.

The majority of higher risk drivers reported always driving more carefully when they see roadworks (81%); however fewer did so when seeing signs for roadworks (61%).

Younger drivers and high frequency drivers (those who use motorways or trunk roads more than once a week) were more likely to say that they only sometimes drive more carefully when they see roadworks. Similarly, younger and high frequency drivers were more likely to say that they only sometimes drive more carefully when they see signs for roadworks.

Higher risk drivers told us that when they see roadworks they slow down (72%), take extra care (71%), are more vigilant (61%) and keep to the speed limit (52%).

Female drivers were more likely to say that they take extra care when they see roadworks (77%) compared to male drivers (67%).

Slightly fewer higher risk drivers said that when they see signs for roadworks (rather than actually seeing the works) they slow down (52%), take extra care (66%), and are more vigilant (62%).

Older drivers (60+) were more likely to say that they slow down (53%), drive steadily (60%), ensure they stick to the speed limit (56%), and pay greater attention (66%) than other drivers.

These results show that although the majority of higher risk drivers report driving more carefully when they see signs for roadworks, the impact of actually seeing the works is greater.

Attitudes towards roadworkers

Opinions about initiatives to improve safety at roadworks

Higher risk drivers were shown a variety of initiatives aimed at improving road safety and asked which they believed were more likely to be successful.

The majority of higher risk drivers thought that Information initiatives would improve safety at roadworks; for example, variable message signs (VMS) (92%); variable speed limits (88%) and displaying the speed of vehicles entering roadworks (87%).

However, younger drivers were less likely to be supportive of any of the Information initiatives.

Higher risk drivers preferred factual and “to the point” messages to emotive messages. In particular, older drivers (60+) were more likely to strongly agree that messages should be factual.

Two education initiatives were also very popular with higher risk drivers: ensuring that all new drivers take a motorway driving test (90%) and educating about the importance of driving safely at roadworks (83%).

Enforcement initiatives were generally expected to be less successful than information or education initiatives. However, measuring average driving speed (66%) and police at relevant points on the road (63%) were expected to be more successful than other enforcement initiatives (Traffic Officers at relevant points on the road 57% and speed cameras (41%).

In general, higher risk drivers did not expect a publicity campaign to be successful (40% agreed) in improving roadworkers’ safety.

When asked about all the initiatives, higher risk drivers were more likely to state that education initiatives would be the most successful (41%), followed by enforcement (28%), provision of information (25%) and publicity (6%).

Opinions about initiatives to improve safety at roadworks

Driver behaviours

The desk research identified four different behaviours shown by higher risk drivers: thrill seeking; aggressive driving; low monitoring of hazards; and hesitant driving. Not all higher risk drivers will show all of the behaviours but some will show more than one at different times. We developed and tested a set of questions aimed at identifying each of the driving behaviours. Then we conducted a separate analysis for drivers scoring high on the behaviour scales, in order to identify whether different interventions are likely to be successful for different types of driving behaviour.

Thrill seekers

Compared to the overall sample:

Drivers showing thrill seeking behaviour appear to be less likely to adapt their behaviour to suit the roadworks environment.

In terms of initiatives to improve roadworkers’ safety, thrill seeking drivers favoured VMS, displaying the speed of vehicles when entering roadworks and variable speed limits.

Aggressive drivers

Compared to the overall sample:

These behaviours are consistent with the aggressive driving style which involves being vigilant for gaps and lane switching to try to achieve quick journey time.

Although they may slow down, as they are less likely to adhere to the speed limit they may still be travelling too fast.

In terms of initiatives to improve roadworkers’ safety, the aggressive drivers favoured VMS, displaying the speed of vehicles when entering roadworks and a compulsory motorway driving test for all new drivers.

Low monitoring of hazards

Compared to the overall sample:

They are more likely to carry on regardless.

These behaviours are consistent with low hazard monitoring behaviour, as drivers are less aware of the roadworks or the hazard that they represent and therefore are less likely to change their behaviour.

In terms of initiatives to improve roadworkers’ safety, those showing low monitoring of hazards were most in favour of displaying the speed of vehicles at roadworks and VMS. However, although these initiatives may be successful for other driver behaviours it could be argued that they may be less successful for low hazard monitors. VMS and education initiatives may be more successful.

Hesitant drivers

Compared to the overall sample:

Improvement Professionals

Improvement professionals thought that combinations of enforcement and education measures were most likely to be effective ways of improving roadworkers’ safety.

The two initiatives they thought were most likely to be effective were; motorway driving tests for new drivers and requiring all drivers to re-sit a test every five years.

Regarding the different driving behaviours, improvement professionals thought that the most effective measures were:

Driver behaviours

Conclusions and Recommendations

Younger people are less likely to be concerned about the safety of roadworkers or adapt their behaviour at roadworks.

Drivers scoring high on the thrill seeking and low monitoring of hazards behaviour scales are also less likely to change their behaviour when approaching roadworks. Aggressive drivers, although stating that they would slow down when they see signs for roadworks, and thus are adapting their behaviour, are still likely to be travelling faster than the speed limit. Hesitant drivers are the most likely to adapt their behaviour to account for roadworks; however this may in itself constitute dangerous driving behaviour.

It is clear from the research that different initiatives to improve safety at roadworks will meet with differing success, particularly depending on driver behaviour and age.

In general, a combination of education, information and enforcement initiatives would appear to be likely to have the most effect.

The use of VMS (factual and to the point), variable speed limits, and displaying the speed of vehicles when entering roadworks, are expected to be successful for most driving behaviours.

Motorway driving tests and educating drivers about the importance of driving safely at roadworks are also expected to be successful for most driving behaviours and particularly for hesitant drivers.

Although higher risk drivers did not think that enforcement initiatives would be very successful, this could be due to the fact that they would not want them introduced rather than their expected lack of success. In addition, Improvement professionals thought that enforcement initiatives would be successful, particularly for drivers displaying thrill seeking, aggressive or hesitant behaviour. The enforcement initiatives expected to be the most successful are: measuring average speed through roadworks and a police presence. Higher risk drivers do not appear to believe that Highways Agency Traffic Officers can replace police officers at present. This may be due to the fact that they are aware of the differing powers of arrest.

Conclusions and Recommendations