Some staff at roadworks in Cumberland will be equipped with bodycams.
Cumberland Council said it was launching a new initiative to improve safety measures during road closures and roadworks to address safety concerns raised by the council’s staff and deterring people from driving at speed through roadworks or attempting to go through road closures while work is ongoing.
It added that not only does it pose a 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.
Mobile CCTV units will be used to record any breaches and some team members will be wear bodycams to record breaches of traffic management, as well as any instances of abuse directed towards the highways teams.
The authority said: “This is to ensure accountability and will hopefully act as a deterrent against inappropriate behaviour.”
The campaign will also feature prominent signs of Cumberland’s dedicated highway teams with their children.
Cumberland Council said it was to emphasise the importance of road safety and urge road users to exercise caution as they drive through roadworks. It added: “The ultimate aim of this campaign is to ensure that all the council’s dedicated staff return home safely to their loved ones.”
Cumberland Councillor Denise Rollo, executive member for sustainable, resilient and connected places, said: “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.”
