Tarmac and partners launch Expect Respect campaign
Companies and organizations launch new campaign in bid to end road worker abuse
IN the last three years, 465 incidents of road worker abuse have been reported in Birmingham. As a result, organizations and companies that work to improve Birmingham’s roads, including Tarmac, have launched a new campaign Expect Respect – to urge the public to respect their road workers.
The incidents include residents threatening road workers with weapons, such as machetes, crossbows, and dogs. One driver threatened to chop off an operative’s head with an electric handsaw unless he was allowed through a closed road. Another worker was shot at with a pellet gun, while another regularly receives homophobic abuse.
Expect Respect is a collaborative campaign between Birmingham’s Integrated Programme Alliance (IPA) partners, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Highways Ltd, Arcadis, Kier, Tarmac, Highway Traffic Management (HTM) and WJ. It features a range of multimedia collateral that focuses on the lived experiences of some of its road workers.
It is also supported by Councillor Liz Clements, cabinet member for transport at Birmingham City Council, who said: ‘Everyone working on our highways network is doing an important job – and all of their tasks are carried out for the people of our city and those using our roads.
‘That is why it is totally unacceptable that they are subject to any form of abuse. Some of the incidents that have been reported are shocking and horrific, which is exactly why I back this campaign.’
Birmingham Highways Ltd (BHL) manage and maintain the roads in the city. To support road workers and to provide the police with better evidence, BHL have invested in CCTV towers, body cameras, and warning systems to alert workers when people or vehicles enter a live work site.
BHL technical director at Dave Pugh said: ‘Over 800 people across our IPA teams are working hard to improve the standards of the roads in Birmingham, and they deserve our respect. The work they do is vital to the safety and efficiency of our roads, and we hope that the proud people of Birmingham will support our workers and call out any incidences of abuse or assault to collectively help stamp out this shocking behaviour.’
To learn more about the campaign, click here.
