The Highways Agency has released a series of video clips highlighting the consequences of motorists who speed through roadworks just to cut journey times.
The videos have been released in a bid to alert drivers to the dangers of driving irresponsibly through roadworks in an effort to safeguard lives and prevent serious injury.
Filmed at various locations across Britain’s road network, cameras were strategically placed along motorways and ‘A’ roads where major roadworks were taking place.
The cameras recorded many shocking incidents, including footage of a HGV overturning and another video showing a truck ploughing into the back of a car. Another clip shows a car undertaking before pulling in inches ahead of a lorry, which was forced to break heavily to avoid a collision.
In a similar incident, involving a car that was undertaking and a truck, the outcome was far more severe. The truck was forced to swerve to avoid the car and ended up overturning.
The recordings are now being posted on the web to serve as a reminder to UK motorists that speed limits are in place for a reason where roadworks are concerned. Government ministers have moved to support the posting of the footage and commented that ‘saving a few minutes on the length of a journey is not worth the consequences of driving irresponsibly through roadworks.’
In a statement from Robert Goodwill, the Roads Minister, he said: “The safety of those who work on our roads is paramount. Saving a few seconds on your journey is simply not worth the cost of the delays caused by these incidents, let alone the devastating impact they can have on lives and families.â€
To further ‘hammer home the point’ the Highways Agency highlighted a number of cases of those affected by roadworks’ crashes.
Case Study
51-year-old Roger Pomeroy was helping to direct traffic past an incident involving an overturned vehicle on the A303 in southwest England.
Shortly before 11pm, Mr Pomeroy was struck by a car travelling at around 40mph. Upon impact he was carried for close to 100 metres before hitting the ground. The incident led to Mr Pomeroy suffering head injuries and a broken leg.
Recalling the incident, Mr Pomeroy said: “My most vivid memory was of Maxine – my partner – at the hospital just crying and crying. I didn’t know whether I was going to survive or die.â€
As a result of the accident he required 38 stitches in his leg and head and was absent from work for six months while he recovered. He underwent extensive physiotherapy and counselling, but has since returned to work.
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