OVER 10,000 drivers have been slapped with a hefty £100 in just a single day.
Motorists failed to notice a new 40mph limit through a major roadworks zone.
Drivers travelling along the A417 in Gloucestershire were met with on-the-spot fines after new speed cameras clocked thousands of cars flying through the “Missing Link” construction area on Tuesday, October 7.
In total, a whopping 13,000 drivers were prosecuted for breaking the temporary 40mph rule, despite repeated warnings from National Highways that speeding through the site could end in tragedy.
The stretch, which connects the A417 and A419 near Birdlip, is currently undergoing a £460million revamp to ease one of the South West’s worst bottlenecks.
But with lane closures, cones and roadworkers on site day and night, safety officials say too many motorists are still treating it like an open motorway.
Deadly impact
Celine Acard, Senior Project Manager for National Highways, said the behaviour of some drivers was putting lives at risk.
She said crews are “working around the clock” to finish the long-awaited upgrade, but stressed that speeding through roadworks for the sake of “saving a minute or two” could have devastating consequences.
“Our teams are entitled to do their jobs safely, without the threat of being maimed or killed by someone recklessly speeding through the site,” she said.
Safety first
Gloucestershire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Evans said the mass fines should be a wake-up call.
He explained that speed limits exist “for a reason”, especially through roadworks, where workers are at their most vulnerable and road layouts are constantly changing.
Evans added that the area had been fitted with cameras to protect both motorists and workers while the “vitally important and long-awaited” Missing Link project is completed.
He urged drivers to leave a few extra minutes for their journey and remember that “the people working at the roadside have families expecting them home at night, just like you”.
Fines
Anyone caught speeding through the 40mph zone faces a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.
National Highways said the lower limit adds less than a minute to journey times, but could make the difference between life and death.
Speeding is a factor in almost half of all crashes on UK roads, and experts say collisions drop dramatically when drivers adjust their speed to match the conditions.
The A417 “Missing Link” scheme aims to finally fix the notorious single-lane bottleneck between Gloucester and Swindon, but with work not due to finish until 2027, officials are begging drivers to stick to the rules.
Gloucestershire County Council has been approached for comment.
What is the missing link scheme?
The Missing Link is a long-awaited road upgrade near Gloucester that aims to fix one of the South West’s biggest traffic headaches.
The £460million scheme will see three-and-a-half miles of new dual carriageway built to connect two existing dual-lane sections of the A417 between Brockworth and Cowley.
The busy stretch is notorious for bottlenecks, blind bends and crashes, with drivers often facing tailbacks and locals complaining of constant congestion.
Once complete, the new route will smooth traffic between Gloucester and Swindon, improving the key corridor linking the Midlands and North with the South of England.
The project, designed by Arup and the Professional Services Alliance, including Kier Design Services, Tony Gee and RPS (a Tetra Tech company), will also include new cycling and pedestrian lanes to support greener, safer travel.
The build has been planned to protect the Cotswolds landscape, balancing the need for better roads with the area’s natural beauty.
