More than 13,000 motorists have faced prosecution for exceeding speed limits through major roadworks along a popular route in the West Midlands.
National Highways has issued an urgent safety warning to motorists speeding on the A417 Missing Link in Gloucestershire, as roadworks continue.
The transport authority delivered a blunt message this week, stating: "Kill your speed, not one of our roadworkers."
They warned that fatal accidents could occur if motorists continue to ignore the new 40mph speed limit restrictions.
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Officials stressed that workers' lives are being endangered by drivers attempting to reduce their journey times by merely one or two minutes.
The stark figures from Gloucestershire Police reveal the scale of non-compliance at the construction site, where average speed cameras monitor traffic through the £460million Missing Link improvement scheme.
The Missing Link project involves constructing four miles of dual carriageway to enhance safety and ease congestion while preserving the distinctive landscape of the Cotswolds National Landscape.
Average speed cameras were deployed in 2024 to protect construction crews, with enforcement handled by Gloucestershire Police while National Highways oversees the major road network.
Thousands of drivers have been slapped with a fine for speeding on the A417
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Two specific 40mph zones have been established - one stretching from the Highwayman Inn/Elkstone junction to Nettleton Bottom, and another connecting the A46 to the Air Balloon roundabout.
National Highways emphasised that adhering to these limits extends journey times by under sixty seconds while avoiding a £100 penalty and three points on driving licences.
The authority noted that excessive speed contributes to nearly half of all road collisions, with cameras serving dual purposes of protecting workers and maintaining traffic flow.
Celine Acard, Senior Project Manager for National Highways, declared that "safety is our number one priority" while addressing the alarming speeding statistics.
National Highways' A417 Missing Link scheme map
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
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She added: "Tens of thousands of people use these sections of the A417 every day, but for the sake of shaving an extra minute or two off their journey times, some drivers are putting their own safety and the safety of our roadworkers at risk.
"Our staff and contractors are working around the clock to complete this project as quickly as possible, and they're entitled to do that safely without the threat of being maimed or killed by someone recklessly speeding through the roadworks."
Nick Evans, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of Gloucestershire's Road Safety Partnership, acknowledged that while "it may be a cliché, speed limits are there for a reason; to keep everyone on our roads safe."
The expert stressed the particular vulnerability of construction workers, since the road is not in its normal state.
Traffic along the route is expected to return to normal in 2027
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
He explained that National Highways had deployed cameras during these "vitally important and long-awaited works on the Missing Link" because roadworks create abnormal driving conditions.
Evans expressed his preference that "no one was caught by these cameras, as it would mean that everyone is driving on this section of road with proper regard for the safety of others".
He urged motorists to "allow a little more time for your journey and think of the workers by the side of the road who, just like you, have families that are expecting them home."