{"id":513530,"date":"2025-01-31T12:45:11","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T12:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=513530"},"modified":"2025-01-30T16:31:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T16:31:42","slug":"driver-incursions-into-roadworks-sites-rise-300-in-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/health-and-safety\/driver-incursions-into-roadworks-sites-rise-300-in-a-year-31-01-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Driver incursions into roadworks sites rise 300% in a year"},"content":{"rendered":"

The number of incursions into cordoned-off National Highways areas nearly trebled in 2024, posing a safety risk to construction workers.<\/p>\n

Data obtained by Construction News<\/em> under the Freedom of Information Act shows there were 5,899 incursion incidents on the road agency\u2019s network in 2024, or around 492 every month.<\/p>\n

The figure was up from 2,034 in 2023, and 4,000 higher than in 2022 \u2013 when it stood at just 1,874.<\/p>\n

The next-worst year for incidents in the past five years \u2013 the period for which CN<\/em> obtained data \u2013 was 2021, when there were 3,886, more than 2,000 fewer than in 2024.<\/p>\n

Such incidents put the safety of roadworkers and drivers at risk. The figures cover sites overseen by both National Highways and its contractors.<\/p>\n

Civil Engineering Contractors Association chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: \u201cEvery day thousands of employees go to work to upgrade and maintain our vital highways networks. This is a challenging environment and companies work hard to minimise risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately there appears to be a growing culture among a small number of drivers to ignore the obvious dangers associated with incursions into roadworks.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThe industry is working hard to change behaviours. We hope that this work will help to turn around this rising trend, safeguarding the highways workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Year<\/td>\nNumber of incursions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2019<\/td>\n2,171<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2020<\/td>\n2,468<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2021<\/td>\n3,886<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2022<\/td>\n1,874<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2023<\/td>\n2,034<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2024<\/td>\n5,899<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/td>\n\u00a018,332<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

A National Highways spokesperson said an increased amount of roadworks in 2024 could be partly responsible for the increase in incursions.<\/p>\n

In 2020, the body, then called Highways England, released a compilation of CCTV incidents of incursions in a bid to raise awareness and reduce such incidents. There were only 2,468 cases recorded that year.<\/p>\n