A new partnership between Island Roads, the Council and the Police, urging the public to respect highway workers, has been launched on the Isle of Wight.
The Island Roads Safety Group (IRSG), comprising the Isle of Wight Council, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and Island Roads, will work together to promote safer behaviour around highway works.
It will also remind motorists of the importance of following temporary traffic management, so that essential works can be completed safely and efficiently.
The partnership was launched at Horsebridge Hill, the location of the current major works and where, during another project last year, the police successfully took action against motorists who ignored temporary traffic management measures in place.
The partnership acknowledges that the vast majority of road users do respect traffic management and road workers – the way the community supported recent works in Wroxall is an example of that – but a minority of motorists do not and put themselves and others at risk.
Steve Ashman, Island Roads Service Director, has said:
“Everyone was extremely grateful for the way the Wroxall community supported our teams – it was a pleasure working on that project.
“However, that’s not always the case. Our staff are frequently abused while on sites. That is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Our staff are there to improve the highway network and to keep road users safe.
Article continues below this advertisement “We appreciate that there is currently a lot of roadwork activity on the Island and we understand temporary traffic lights and diversions can cause inconvenience and frustration. But it is never ok to take that frustration out on staff who are also Island residents and members of the local community and are simply doing their job.”
The IRSG will explore further ways to reduce anti‑social behaviour towards workers and raise awareness that temporary traffic management is legally enforceable and designed to protect both road users and staff.
Last summer, a police enforcement operation at Horsebridge Hill during private‑developer works resulted in action against 184 motorists. Similar enforcement campaigns remain an option elsewhere. Island Roads also deploys mobile CCTV at problematic sites, and staff can use body‑worn cameras where necessary.
Michelle Love, Service Director for Highways and Community Protection at the Isle of Wight Council, says:
“We would all rather avoid the need for enforcement, but it is vital that road users respect highway workers and do not put their own safety – or anyone else’s – at risk by ignoring temporary traffic management.”
Chief Inspector Andy McDonald of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary adds:
“Nobody should feel unsafe or threatened when they are simply doing their job. Island Roads staff are carrying out essential works across the Island, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to make sure behaviour that threatens their safety, and the safety of other road users around these areas, is tackled swiftly.”
Ok, we know its not the fault of highway workers themselves but the public are getting very fed up indeed of the constant road closures and ludicrous diversions on the Island!
Its getting beyond a joke now and frankly everyone has had enough. Although not right, its little wonder that road workers are facing abuse from the public, perhaps the Police and Island roads should bare that in mind!
With over 2 years of utter crap and more to come it’s no wonder but yes not nice to all involved.
“Doing there jobs?” perhaps if the workers were actually doing their jobs people wouldn’t be so annoyed, but no, the workers generally stand around either watching one guy do all the work or they are looking at their phones. Island Roads is a joke from the top to the bottom, and now they’ve brought in another bunch of useless idiots the IW Council and Police.. I wonder how many fines will be issued for these “offences” and how much money these jokers will make off the backs of hard working people trying to get home after an actual hard days work. They talk about the Island Roads Workers needing respect, but what about the average Joe, when do we get some respect? Respect for our time, our money, our patience?
absolutely! I wholeheartedly agree . Well said.
It is getting to the stage operatives need to wear body cameras.
Islandwide CCTV is desperately required, one way to catch
numpties.
Too many motorists don’t stop at temporary traffic lights.