Fines for unattended roadworks – CPC Training Manager

Government considering plans to hand fines of up to £5,000 to councils and firms who leave their roadworks in place without anyone doing any work.

Ridgeway Training – CPC Training Manager

Utilities companies and local authorities may be fined for leaving their roadworks unattended at the weekends, the Department for Transport has announced.

As part of measures to reduce congestion on England’s A roads, the department have stated that it is drawing up plans to penalise anyone responsible for inconveniencing drivers by not using “common sense”.

The government has also stated it intends to look in to forcing companies that are working on major roads to work seven days a week, to try and speed up the completion of the job, and to hand out penalties to those who leave temporary traffic lights up after work has finished.

Patrick McLoughlin, the transport secretary had this to say “Roadworks can be essential, but that doesn’t mean they should be in place any longer than is absolutely necessary,”

He continued…“These commonsense measures will be a welcome relief to those trying to get from A to B on our local roads.”

The plans would apply to A roads, which are managed by the local authorities and make up over 24,000 miles of road around the country. Companies that are currently working on motorways, which are managed by Highways England, already face fines for over-running.

The director of the RAC Foundation, Steve Gooding welcomed the announcement by saying “Road users see red when they come across sets of temporary traffic lights that are stopping traffic but there are no workmen in sight, or the work has actually finished,”

He continues… “Ministers can’t stop utility companies digging up the roads, but they can make firms pay the price if the work is not done swiftly and they do not tidy up after themselves.”

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