Points and fine for road block driver

A motorist from Greater Manchester has become only the second driver in the North to be prosecuted following a complaint from new Highways Agency Traffic Officers.

The driver, who appeared at Bury Magistrates' Court last month (Friday, June 29), admitted driving without due care and attention and was fined £500 with six penalty points added to his driving licence.

He was on the westbound M62 at Birch, between Junctions 19 and 18, when the incident happened on Thursday, January 25.

At the time, Highways Agency Traffic Officers from the outstation at Milnrow were working in a live lane to remove a lane closure in a difficult location. To assist the operation, Highways Agency Traffic Officers in a high visibility 4WD, also from Milnrow, were holding back the oncoming traffic in a rolling road closure. Colleagues at the North West Regional Control Centre at Newton-le-Willows had also set signs warning of a lane closure ahead and an incident.

However, the driver was then witnessed using the hard shoulder to drive past the rolling road closure, heading towards an area where Traffic Officers were working in the carriageway. He was subsequently reported to Greater Manchester Police and summonsed.

The size of the fine and the penalty of six points were viewed by the North West Traffic Officer Service today as reflecting the seriousness and potential danger of the driver's actions.

Dave Ryder, Network Operations Manager in charge of the service, said, "I would like to publicly thank Greater Manchester Police for their support - particularly PC Andy Rose whose work has been instrumental in dealing with this matter.

"This is the second successful prosecution by Greater Manchester Police following a complaint by Highways Agency Traffic Officers and it sends out a very strong message to drivers that they need to heed our signs and instructions or suffer fines and penalty points possibly leading to a ban."

Arthur Ashburner, Director of Traffic Operations North which runs the North West Traffic Officer Service, said, "In 2005 five roadworkers lost their lives on England's major roads. All were caused through operatives being struck by third party vehicles. We also had 12 major injuries and a further 29 injuries causing absence from work for more than three days.

"We are totally committed to protecting personnel carrying out repairs and improvements or tackling incidents. Their work is vital to keep the motorways open and traffic moving but they cannot do that unless they are confident they can do so in a safe environment. They should not have to work in fear of drivers ignoring Traffic Officers' instructions."