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New rules to improve safety and information at road works

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 10 March 2010

All road works will need to be clearly signed and meet strict rules on safety under plans published today by Transport Minister Sadiq Khan.

Utility firms already have to provide information at road works - including a contact telephone number and details of who is carrying out the works - as well as meeting high safety standards. Today's proposals mean that councils carrying out their own works will also have to abide by these rules.

In addition, anyone carrying out road works will have to meet tougher standards on safety for disabled people - making sure sites are properly protected and facilities are put in place to allow wheelchair users to move around them easily.

Sadiq Khan said:

"I am tired of hearing excuses about why road works can't be carried out with more consideration and respect for the travelling public. It is not acceptable for works to be badly signed, left in a dangerous state or put in place without a thought for the needs of road users, particularly people with disabilities.

"That is why I have made tackling road works disruption a priority since I became Transport Minister last year and announced a package of measures in December to reduce the problems they can cause.

"We have already taken steps to give councils greater powers to co-ordinate works and to incentivise utility firms to finish works on time. The plans I have announced today will make sure that all works are clearly signed and properly protected."

Further changes to the Safety Code of Practice include:

- Additional information on maintaining and making sites safe when unattended;

- New equipment requirements to improve worker and road user safety;

- More advice on work near railway level crossings or near trams;

Today's announcement forms part of the Department for Transport's street works action plan published in December 2009. The action plan aims to reduce the disruption caused by street works and today's consultation follows recent proposals to increase the maximum charges for overrunning utility works.

Notes to Editors:

1. The consultation on proposals to revise the existing Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice is being launched today on the DfT website (www.dft.gov.uk).

2. The purpose of the Code is to ensure that road users and operatives at sites remain safe when works are taking place in the highway. This will be done by ensuring that the sites are properly maintained and segregated from public access, and that those who work on the sites are fully visible and protected at all times.

3. The most important proposal is that the Code would become statutory for local authorities’ own works as well as street works by utilities and other undertakers. Previously the Code was only statutory for utility works and advisory for highway works.

4. Other planned changes to the Code include higher standards for equipment, such as safety barriers and high visibility jackets; greater provision for disabled people; and improved consistency with other legislation.

5. The consultation will run for 12 weeks until the end of 2nd June 2010. As ever DfT welcomes responses from all interested parties. The consultation paper contains full details of how to respond.

Press Enquires: 020 7944 3066 Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292 Public Enquiries: 0300 330 3000 Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

Contacts:

Roads ..
Phone: 020 7944 3066
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk