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HA plea over roadwork deaths

Drivers approaching roadworks are being urged to take extra care after a sharp rise in road-worker deaths this year. The Highways Agency says people breaking the speed limit represent the biggest danger.

Road maintenance companies say dangerous driving is on the increase, and they are installing speed cameras to monitor average speeds over a whole section of motorway, rather than at individual locations, to monitor the problem. Four workers have died in the first half of 2005 - compared with just one death in the whole of 2004.

Highways Agency traffic operations director Derek Turner called workers on motorways and major 'A' roads a 'vulnerable group'. "Everyone is entitled to a safe workplace," he said. "Yet road workers risk death and injury at work every day (and night) making sure our roads remain safe and in good condition. We appeal to drivers to slow down when approaching roadworks and obey the signs and speed limits, which are there to ensure the safety of workers and drivers."

The Highways Agency launched a Safety at Roadworks campaign in 2001, advising drivers to keep within the speed limit, concentrate on the road, observe road signs and be alert for works traffic.  

For the full article visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4158198.stm

Footnote:
Hundreds of motorists are being caught speeding each day by a series of linked cameras on the M1 near Leicester. Some 2,000 fines have been handed out in the last fortnight. The cameras measure drivers' average speed through a stretch of the motorway that is being resurfaced.

For the full article visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/4161022.stm