In a new initiative to improve safety measures during road closures and road works and to help raise awareness, Cumberland Council is launching a new Road Safety Campaign across the region.
The aim of this campaign is to address safety concerns raised by the council’s staff, whilst deterring the public from driving at speed through road works or attempting to go through road closures while works are ongoing.
This behaviour not only poses a high risk to the council’s workforce but also has the potential to damage other third-party property. Vehicles passing through a road closure are not normally covered by the owners' insurance.
The council urges the public to pay attention to road closure signage and refrain from driving through closed areas, as the council’s workforce may well be in the carriageway performing their duties. To reinforce this message, the campaign will be launched on Monday 22 April, following the Highway and Transport Strategic Board Meeting.
Comprising a three-pronged approach, the campaign will feature:
- Prominent Signs: These large signage boards will display images of Cumberland’s dedicated Highway teams along with their actual children, making this campaign truly authentic in every way possible. It is to emphasise the importance of road safety and urges road users to exercise caution as they drive through road works. The ultimate aim of this campaign is to ensure that all the council’s dedicated staff return home safely to their loved ones.
- Bodycams: Some team members will be equipped with bodycams capable of recording any breaches of traffic management, as well as any instances of abuse directed towards the Highways teams. This initiative is to ensure accountability and will hopefully act as a deterrent against inappropriate behaviour.
- Surveillance Technology: Signage cameras and mobile CCTV units will be strategically placed to monitor and record any instances of vehicles breaching traffic management, this includes road users who ignore red lights.
In the event of anyone violating traffic management or being abusive towards council staff, images and captured footage will be promptly handed over to the police to consider prosecution.
Cumberland Councillor Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, highlighted the encounters faced by Highways teams during their day-to-day work, by saying:
“Each day, our Highways teams carry out their duties with utmost dedication and professionalism. Unfortunately, some members of the public challenge road closures, attempting to breach them or subject our staff to abuse. This not only disrupts their work but also creates an unwarranted risk to their safety.
“To address this issue, we've equipped our staff with bodycams and increased CCTV surveillance along the highways. Additionally, we have designed new signage aimed at reminding the public to exercise caution in roadworks areas. Footage of law-breaking individuals will be shared with the police.
“In the coming weeks, we'll also be placing signs on the highways which display images of our Highway staff teams along with their actual children, reminding people that our workers have homes to get to with their loved ones. Our ultimate goal is to create a safer working environment for those who tirelessly serve our community."
