More drivers are putting roadworkers’ lives at risk to cut queues

National Highways data shows 53% of incursions now involve deliberate queue-jumping, up from 47% in 2020. In one case on the M1, a series of close calls forced a full closure and a 10-mile diversion.

A dangerous rise in drivers ignoring roadwork closures to skip queues is putting lives at risk, according to new analysis from National Highways.

• More than 400 drivers deliberately entered closed-off roadwork areas between January – July this year, putting lives at risk.
• More than half of incursions now involve drivers trying to avoid queues, closures or diversions, up from 47% in 2020.
• Unsafe driver behaviour has led to full motorway closures and significant delays for road users.

There is growing concern across the road transport sector around incursions – the name given to incidents where a vehicle enters a closed-off section of roadworks because of the danger to roadworkers.

National Highways data shows that more than half (53%) of incursions recorded between January and the end of July this year involved drivers deliberately trying to avoid queues, closures or diversions.

Across all regions in England, a total of 1,633 incursions were recorded across England’s motorways and major A roads last year. While the majority were linked to drivers deliberately entering restricted roadwork areas to gain a benefit, other incidents involved factors such as breakdowns or unintentional incursions.

Melanie Clarke OBE, Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at National Highways, said:

“These figures show a worrying number of drivers wilfully ignoring roadworks to save time, putting roadworkers and other people at risk.

“Our roadworkers have the right to carry out repairs and improvements safely and we ask all drivers to follow signed routes and never enter restricted areas.”

In some cases, these incidents are leading to roads being completely closed, to avoid workers being put in danger. This is adding time onto journeys.

Recently, following a series of particularly close calls, a section of the M1 in Hertfordshire was closed completely to keep workers safe, which meant drivers had a 10-mile diversion.

Sinead Ryan, Traffic Management Foreman for HW Martin, said:

“People don’t always realise how dangerous our job can be. We work close to live traffic and, while we can do everything possible to keep ourselves safe, we can’t control the actions of drivers.

“When someone ignores a closure or drives into a work area, it only takes a second for someone to get hurt. There are real people working behind those cones and all we’re trying to do is get home safely at the end of the day.”

National Highways is continuing to work with supply chain partners to reduce the risk of these incidents.

You can view footage of some incidents captured on our motorways and major A-roads on our YouTube channel here: Dangerous Driving Through Roadworks Caught On Camera