Government ‘Rejects’ Roadwork Delay Improvement Suggestions

The government has rejected the majority of suggestions by MPs on how to improve delays relating to roadworks on UK roads.

The Department for Transport (DfT) stated that while it recognised the need for roadworks to proceed with minimal disruption, work carried out by utility companies was essential for repairs, maintenance and improvement to electric, gas, water, broadband and utility services.

It leaves the situation in the balance, with local MPs at loggerheads with Westminster as they try to ensure that road conditions on local roads (as well as main routes) are as safe and without disruption as they can be.

The figures on roadworks are staggering, with 2.2 million street and roadworks carried out in England alone in the year from April 2023 to March 2024.

Are Roadwork Delays Impacting Road Safety?

Roadworks are the last thing anyone wants to see as they set off on a journey, whether that’s to work, out on a trip with the kids or beginning your routes for the day.

For fleet owners, it becomes a case of route planning to ensure that any delays are minimised, which can be easier said than done.

Road improvement works, whether that’s fixing potholes or improvements and repairs to utility networks, are essential and unfortunately there’s often little that can be done to reduce the disruption.

We’ve seen recent improvement work on Smart Motorways to add refuge zones and improve central reservations, which you can see the logic in even if the delays are inconvenient.

The cross-party committee suggestions that have been largely rejected were aimed at exploring whether tighter controls should be made on ‘urgent’ permits that allow utility companies to bypass local authority approval before they begin roadworks.

You can read the full story on why the majority of recommendations to improve roadwork delays have been rejected by the government HERE

Add in the fact that roads are often re-laid to a lesser standard than prior to work commencing and it becomes an issue for drivers in the longer-term. 

Are Roadworks A Help Or Hindrance?

It feels like you can barely drive 10 minutes without bumping into roadworks of one sort or another.

For fleets, that issue is exacerbated due to the amount of time spent on the road, meaning that delays are felt much more acutely and an accumulation of roadworks can leave you in a spot where frustration builds.

But could more be done to ensure that essential work takes place at times where disruption is likely to be minimal, such as evenings or weekends?

At Driving Monitor, we understand the risks posed by your drivers, which is why our Risk Monitor allows you to easily assess those risks and get a bird’s-eye view of where your business stands with risk – find out more about Risk Monitor here.

Do you think the government needs to reconsider the way in which roadwork permits are issued? And do you think road safety should be more of a priority with road improvement works? Let us know…