National Highways Warns Drivers Ignoring Roadwork Closures Are Putting Lives at Risk

LONDON: National Highways has warned motorists against deliberately entering closed roadwork areas to avoid traffic queues, saying such actions are putting road workers and other road users at serious risk.

The agency, which manages England’s motorways and major roads, recorded 814 incursions into roadwork areas between January and July 2026. According to National Highways data, 53 percent of these incidents involved drivers deliberately attempting to avoid queues, closures or diversions.

National Highways said more than 400 incidents this year involved motorists entering restricted areas in an attempt to find shortcuts. On average, around 30 such incursions are recorded each week across England’s motorways and A-roads.

The agency has released footage showing motorists driving through cones and barriers into closed roadwork zones. Some of the incidents resulted in prosecutions and driving bans. On the M1 in Hertfordshire, repeated incursions led authorities to close the motorway completely to protect workers, resulting in a 10-mile diversion.

Melanie Clarke, National Highways’ director of health, safety and wellbeing, said motorists entering closed areas were often travelling at speed without knowing what work or hazards lay ahead. She warned that road surfaces, machinery and other equipment could pose risks even when workers were not immediately visible.

National Highways also reported that at least one fatality this year had been linked to roadwork incursions. Officials stressed that road closures are implemented for safety reasons and urged motorists to follow traffic management measures rather than attempting shortcuts.

Sinead Ryan, a lead traffic management operative with contractor HW Martin, said road workers operate close to live traffic and cannot control the actions of motorists. She warned that ignoring a closure or entering a work area could result in someone being injured within seconds.