Fines warning for M60 roadworks drivers

Highways Agency officials are alarmed at recent cases of drivers stopping to remove cones and driving straight on into roadworks, regardless of the dangers ahead of them and the fact that people may be working in the closed-off sections of the road.

In just one weekend last month road workers carrying out major investigatory works along the eastern section of the M60 close to the Middleton junction, recorded eight ‘near-miss’ reports of motorway users driving into the roadworks and hurtling towards them.

Now Greater Manchester Police has stepped in, backing the contractors with a promise to prosecute offenders. The police have given roadworkers an evidence check-list of the things they will need to prosecute and are warning offending drivers that some of the incidents are so dangerous they could face jail if convicted.

David Craik, General Manager of A-one+, who compiled the ‘near miss’ reports for the M60 work, said: “Our specialist contractors are becoming increasingly alarmed at the number of times motorists are ignoring lane closures. There have been numerous incidents where private motorists are stopping on the motorway at the roadworks, moving cones and barriers and then driving through the site - sometimes at high speeds.

“Within the current M60 works trenches are being dug across the road at least a metre wide – and if a car hits one of those at speed then we could be looking at a fatality not to mention the risks roadworkers are being exposed to.”

Greater Manchester Police has now promised to pursue offenders where they can be identified and the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service, which runs and monitors motorway CCTV cameras at the North West Regional Control Centre at Newton-le-Willows, has been asked to pass on any footage.

Over the last two years Greater Manchester Police has prosecuted several drivers for ignoring the directions of Highways Agency Traffic Officers or signs set by colleagues at the North West Regional Control Centre – resulting in heavy fines and licence endorsements.

Roger Coles, Highways Agency liaison officer for Greater Manchester Police, said: “Putting roadworkers’ lives at risk with this kind of behaviour is inexcusable and we will prosecute drivers where we can. Drivers are certainly risking fines and points leading to a ban but offences like dangerous driving also carry prison sentences.”

Matt Sweeting, Highways Agency Regional Performance Manager, said: "We take the safety of roadworkers very seriously and we are alarmed at this kind of behaviour. It is only a minority of drivers but it only takes one incident to result in an injury or death.

“No roadworker should have to do their job in the fear that a car is going to come speeding into their supposedly safe and sterile working area and we welcome Greater Manchester Police’s support.”