National Highways has warned that drivers who deliberately ignore roadwork closures to avoid queues are putting road workers and themselves at serious risk. The agency recorded hundreds of vehicles entering restricted areas in England this year, prompting some motorway sections to be closed entirely to protect workers and causing longer diversions.

Between January and July, 814 roadwork incursions were reported, with 53% involving drivers seeking shortcuts around queues, closures or diversions. About 30 incidents occur each week, and National Highways said at least one person had died this year; it stressed that closed areas may contain machinery, unsafe surfaces or nearby workers, even when no activity is immediately visible.