Police are warning drivers against speeding in roadwork areas and putting the safety of highway workers at risk.
Police are concerned reckless motorists could cause serious or fatal injuries by hitting high speeds so close to where workers are carrying out essential repairs or dealing with a live incident.
It comes after temporary safety cameras recently caught more than 400 drivers whizzing by at over 60mph during emergency work on the A38 Aston Expressway towards the M6. This was over five days and despite a 50mph limit being in place.
Police have issued warning letters on this occasion but won’t hesitate to take stronger action if motorists don’t follow the limit on our motorway and main routes in future.
Inspector Sion Hathaway, from CMPG, said: “Drivers who speed through roadwork areas are putting the safety of road workers at risk.
“There are occasions where roadworks are necessary on the motorway, and adjoining routes and highways staff will be close to passing traffic.
“All it takes is for a car traveling at high speed, or a worker to slip, and we could be talking about someone being seriously injured or even killed.
“Speed limits are there for a reason and should be obeyed. If you need to be out on the road at this time please make sure that you drive responsibly and with full consideration for the safety of everyone.
“Unfortunately, experience has taught us that the inappropriate use of speed is a major factor in collisions that kill people or cause serious injury. We know the A38(M) is a collision hotspot with speed being a significant contributory factor.
“If we don’t see driving behaviour improve, we will issue penalty points and a fine.”
Nationally, there were 6,500 incidents of vehicle incursions into Highways England roadworks − an average of 175 a month – between October 2017-20.
Highways England Assistant Regional Safety Co-ordinator, Marie Biddulph, said: “We want drivers to understand the dangers of speeding at any time, but particularly through roadworks.
“Speed limits are imposed to protect our workers as well as road users. By speeding through roadworks you are putting people carrying out essential work at risk. We don’t want to see anybody harmed while working on our network.
“These letters will remind people to think of others and drive safely because if they don’t, the consequences could be fatal.”