Nobody enjoys having to negotiate street works and road works. Not only do they seem to spring up overnight, but closed lanes and diverted traffic often cause confusion, anger and lateness. Indeed, road works may be the bane of your morning commute, but they are a necessary evil to maintain and improve the complex infrastructure of our roads. Moreover, caution should always be exercised when encountering road works, whether you are a road user or a pedestrian. Read on to find out more.
Before setting off on a journey, it is always advisable to check your route. Check the live traffic reports in your area so you can be aware of road works, road closures, incidents, delays and more. Additionally, most navigation apps, like Google Maps, receive live traffic data to determine the best route for road users. However, planning your route ahead of time will help you avoid any road issues altogether.
It is always important to pay close attention to your speed when approaching road works. You may need to slow down or come to a sudden stop to avoid potential hazards. As such, being mindful of your speed and being prepared to react quickly can help prevent accidents and keep everyone safe, including the workers on the road. Furthermore, there may be differences in road conditions, loose gravel and potholes, so reducing your speed will help you avoid tyre damage.
It is never safe to use your phone while driving. In fact, more than 30 countries worldwide have made it illegal to use a handheld device while driving, including the UK, Australia, and parts of Canada and the US. Even so, many road users still admit to occasionally using their mobile phones while driving. When driving through areas with road works, it is particularly important to remain aware of your surroundings and pay attention to the road. Even a momentary lapse of concentration while you open a message or change your music can lead to an accident.
On a similar note, when using a sat nav or GPS app on your phone, it may update in real-time in accordance with the latest traffic reports. If your sat nav informs you of road works or traffic jams, it may ask you if you would like it to reconfigure your route. If so, avoid reaching over to adjust your sat nav while driving. Instead, pull over and do so safely.
When navigating through road works, paying attention to signage is crucial, as they provide vital information and instructions for drivers and pedestrians. Ignoring temporary traffic signs and disrespecting the placement of traffic cones not only puts you in danger but also endangers the well-being of workers, pedestrians and other road users. As soon as you notice a sign indicating that you are approaching a stretch of road where construction or maintenance is taking place, be vigilant and comply with the instructions and the traffic management plan.
When approaching areas with road works, it is crucial to stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings as a pedestrian as well as a driver. Keep a lookout for various indicators such as traffic cones, barriers, signs and sounds that indicate road work. Road construction and maintenance work usually involves power tools, plant machinery and other hazardous items and materials, so keep your wits about you and stay as far away from the site as possible. Whenever road work disrupts a footpath, a safe route for pedestrians is usually provided, so heed any signage and don’t attempt to breach any barriers - they are there for your own safety.
If you’re out and about with young children, extra vigilance is required around roadworks, as outlined in this article. Children are naturally curious, so it is imperative that you educate them about the dangers of road side construction sites. Teach them to recognise and respect the signs, traffic cones, and barriers that indicate ongoing construction, emphasising the importance of not playing or wandering near roadworks and to stay a safe distance away. Similarly, keep a close eye on your dog when walking them near road works. The loud noises and vibrations may cause your dog to panic and bolt, so keep them on a lead at all times.