{"id":47552,"date":"2014-09-12T13:55:23","date_gmt":"2014-09-12T13:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=57f8e8114eba27fceca6df067faf8fd5"},"modified":"2014-09-12T13:55:23","modified_gmt":"2014-09-12T13:55:23","slug":"press-release-road-worker-dangers-highlighted-in-greater-manchester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=47552","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Road worker dangers highlighted in Greater Manchester"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The dangers facing road workers are being highlighted as part of a national initiative aimed at reducing the number of workers who are killed or seriously injured on England\u2019s motorways and major A roads.<\/p>\n

Last year saw the highest number of serious injuries among incident response teams for six years, with ten road workers suffering major injuries across England. Overall, eight workers died and 317 were injured while working on or near motorways and major A roads in the five years between 2009 and 2013.<\/p>\n

At its peak, up to 200 people will be working on the \u00a3208 million smart motorway scheme in Greater Manchester at any one time. The project began in July and will cut congestion and improve journey times on a 17-mile stretch of the network between junction 8 of the M60 near Sale and junction 20 of the M62 near Rochdale.<\/p>\n

The latest technology is being installed to monitor traffic levels, provide traffic information to road users, and ease congestion by using variable speed limits on overhead message signs. The hard shoulder is also being permanently converted into an extra lane on a five-mile stretch of the M62 between junctions 18 and 20.<\/p>\n

A temporary 50mph speed limit has been introduced while the work is being carried out, for the safety of both road workers and drivers.<\/p>\n

Roads Minister John Hayes said:<\/p>\n

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The safety of those who work around the clock to carry out vital improvements and keep drivers moving after incidents is absolutely paramount.<\/p>\n

It is not worth putting road workers\u2019 lives at risk, let alone the tragic impact on their lives and those of their families, simply to shave a few seconds off your journey.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Highways Agency\u2019s advice for driving safely at roadworks is simple – to:<\/p>\n