Roadworks legislation 'to become stricter'

Date: 11/3/2010

Stricter rules are to be imposed on firms and councils carrying out roadworks, the Department for Transport announced on Wednesday (March 10th).

Under the new regulations, roadworks sites must be properly protected and there must be facilities in place to allow wheelchair users to move around them more easily, the government department stated.

At present, all utility firms carrying out roadworks must provide the public with information on site such as a telephone number and details about who is carrying out the works.

As of this week, councils carrying out works will also have to abide by these regulations.

Transport minister Sadiq Khan commented on the changes: "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."

Other chances to the Safety Code of Practice include new equipment requirements to improve safety.

The department has also recently announced that firms who allow roadworks to run over deadline could face fines of up to £25,000 a day.