National Highways has warned drivers not to enter closed roadworks to avoid queues, closures or diversions after 814 incursions were reported on England’s motorways and major A roads in the first seven months of 2026.
The organisation said 53% of the incidents recorded between January and July involved motorists attempting to gain an advantage by going through cones, barriers or other restrictions. It is urging drivers to follow signed diversions and temporary traffic arrangements rather than treating a closure as optional.
Roadworkers face danger when closures are ignored
Roadworks can contain people on foot, moving plant, machinery and sections of road surface that are not safe for normal traffic. A driver entering such an area may not be expecting workers or equipment beyond the barrier, while those working there may have little time or space to react to a vehicle.
National Highways said its contractors had reported a growing share of incidents that appeared to be deliberate. The agency records about 30 incursions a week across the network it manages, although not every case is thought to involve a driver seeking a shortcut. Breakdowns and errors can also lead to vehicles entering a restricted area. The key distinction, it says, is that drivers who have made a genuine mistake will usually stop and seek help rather than continuing through the works.
Melanie Clarke, National Highways’ director of health, safety and wellbeing, said the figures showed a worrying number of drivers were wilfully ignoring roadworks in an attempt to save time. She said that behaviour puts roadworkers, other road users and the drivers themselves at risk.
Why a quiet-looking closure may still be essential
One reason motorists may be tempted to ignore a closure is the belief that no work is taking place. National Highways says that assumption can be unsafe. Workers may be nearby but out of view, a task may be about to begin, or the carriageway may have been altered or treated in a way that makes it unsuitable for vehicles.
A closure may therefore protect a work area even where a driver cannot immediately see a team on the road. Cones, signs, barriers and diversion routes are part of the safety arrangements, not simply an indication of congestion ahead. Following them helps give crews a controlled space in which to carry out repairs, maintenance and improvement work.
Hertfordshire example shows the wider disruption
National Highways highlighted repeated incursions at roadworks on the M1 in Hertfordshire earlier this year. The problem led to a full motorway closure to protect workers rather than a lane closure, with a 10-mile diversion for traffic. The example underlines how a decision intended to bypass a delay can create more disruption for many other people using the route.
The organisation says drivers are not likely to save time by entering a work zone and should allow extra time when closures or diversions are in place. Checking a route before setting off, paying attention to advance signs and following the temporary layout can reduce last-minute decisions at the roadside.
Advice for motorists approaching roadworks
For drivers, the practical message is straightforward. Slow down when approaching works, read the signs early and use the official diversion if the road is closed. Do not move cones, go around a barrier or follow another vehicle into a restricted section. If a vehicle breaks down or a driver has entered an area in error, stopping safely and seeking assistance is safer than attempting to continue through the site.
National Highways looks after England’s motorways and major A roads. Its latest warning is directed at the small number of incursions that can turn a routine journey into a serious risk. Roadworks may be inconvenient, but the restrictions are there to protect the people carrying out the work and everyone travelling nearby.
