Roadworkers targeted with urine fear being run down

Traffic management operative Sinead Ryan, 24, was previously threatened with a gun and says she fears being run over by a motorist

Roadworkers who have had bottles of urine thrown at them fear being “run down”, after highways bosses warned abuse from motorists will “not be tolerated”.

Suffolk Highways says it has seen an increase in the amount of abuse – both physical and verbal – directed at workers employed to keep the county’s roads moving.

In a bid to deter offenders, new signs have been placed at work sites across the county, reminding them that attacking workers could land them in trouble with the police.

Traffic management worker Sinead Ryan, who is also an ambassador for the Stamp It Out campaign, said: “It’s worrying... we don’t come to work to be abused.”

Suffolk Highways has deployed signs to various sites across the county reminding drivers to not abuse workers

The county council department's crackdown comes after figures obtained by the BBC revealed 541 cases of abuse towards road workers had been recorded across England by National Highways between 2020 and 2023.

Ms Ryan, 24, who was once threatened with a gun, says being on the receiving end of abuse has become par for the course.

“I really enjoy my job, but I know people who have left the industry because why should they come to work just to get screamed at?” she asked.

“Abuse is just like a normal thing for us and you even get drivers throwing bottles of urine out the window at you.

“But it ranges from a swear word to someone actually trying to get to you – and, God forbid, but someone could actually run you down.

“I’ve had to lock myself in my van because people have slammed their hands on the bonnet and tried to get in - people get angry really quickly and it is worrying.”

Darren Clark is the operations director at the Suffolk-based TBF Traffic

In recent years, councils and companies across the country have implemented safety and security measures - including bodycams - in a bid to deter people from lashing out at workers.

Darren Clark, operations director at the Suffolk-based TBF Traffic, has said “the level of abuse doesn’t seem to have reduced at all”.

“We had an incident where someone tried to remove our traffic lights and then just threw a whole torrent of abuse at the worker, so we had to call the police," he said.

“It seems to be common that members of the public just think they can abuse road workers - they can’t accept we are there trying to help them.

“It’s quite vile.”

Bosses at Suffolk Highways have now reminded offenders that roadworkers “are human”.

“They don’t deserve to be shouted and sworn at, however frustrated you may be about works or the delays these may cause to your journey," a spokesman said.

“Working on the highway in all weathers can be challenging enough and our people should not have to go home feeling upset for only trying to do their job.

“Abuse will not be tolerated and will be reported to the police.”