A road in the UK with a red road closed sign and a yellow diversion sign with red and white cones.

Road workers report rise in abuse

Consumer Editor

4 minute read|12th Jun 2026

Road workers employed by infrastructure giant Balfour Beatty are facing a sharp rise in abuse, with hundreds of incidents reported every week as crews carry out essential repairs and maintenance across the UK.

The abuse ranges from verbal insults to physical assaults and threats involving weapons such as knives and baseball bats.

Staff are subjected to around 600 incidents of abuse each week. Drivers have also been caught on camera throwing objects at crews, mounting pavements to bypass traffic management measures, driving directly through blockades, and, in some cases, directing racially abusive language at staff.

Road workers have also had fireworks thrown at them from a moving vehicle. The escalating hostility has raised serious concerns for staff safety.

In response, Balfour Beatty has introduced several measures aimed at safeguarding its workforce. These include issuing body‑worn cameras to staff, allowing incidents to be recorded and used as evidence where necessary.

Further steps include the installation of extra CCTV at work sites and enhanced conflict resolution training, equipping workers with techniques to de-escalate tense situations.

Although all incidents are reported, only one prosecution has been secured so far.

Ben Francis, Operations Manager at Balfour Beatty, told The Times: “In recent years it has got worse. There has been a huge spike in these incidents across the country.

“We had a driver decide to go through a road closure the other day and they mounted onto the footpath and drove at teams that were actually working.

“After they were stopped and asked to leave they started racially abusing one of our operatives. That’s with the police now.”

Matt Herbert, Head of Health, Safety & Wellbeing, commented: “What we need the members of the public to fully understand is that these people are there to make their journey better and not there to take abuse.

“We need a culture change.”

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