Public urged to stop abusing road workers taking breaks in heatwave

Suffolk Highways has today again appealed for people to stop being abusive to workers taking breaks at roadworks.

The authority has run a social media campaign through the heatwave explaining why the workers need to have breaks for their own health and safety.

But a spokeswoman said today: "Sadly we’re continuing to receive reports of our teams receiving verbal abuse from members of the public for taking breaks.

"We are reminding the public that these individuals are working eight hours a day, with hot materials, in full protective gear and with very little access to shade – their breaks are essential to staying safe and healthy whilst working."

It has been so bad on some sites, Suffolk Highways is installing CCTV to try to deter abusers.

She added that though cooler temperatures are expected over the next few days they are still encouraging encouraging flexible working times among teams and reminding them to take regular breaks and stay hydrated.

Some teams are starting works starting as early as 4am in an attempt to avoid the intense heat later in the day.

Suffolk Highways says in the past two weeks its teams have filled 635 potholes at 405 locations, with 93 per cent of these being permanent repairs, and resurfaced 150 miles of road at 218 locations.