DRIVERS putting people in danger by ignoring Stop/Go signs and road closures are to be held to account following a new initiative from Gloucestershire Highways.

There has been a spate of incidents recently of drivers putting people in danger by ignoring the signs, and road workers have been hit by vehicles in Stow-on-the-Wold, Stroud and the Forest of Dean.

Gloucestershire Highways is to fit CCTV cameras to the signs so offenders can be caught and prosecuted.

Head of Gloucestershire Highways Nigel Tomlinson said drivers ignoring the signs were putting workers at serious risk.

“The Stop/Go boards used for traffic control have legal status,” he added.

“I hope the fact that the signs now have mini cameras installed in them will deter people from ignoring them in the future.”

Since January last year there have been 48 recorded incidents of drivers ignoring the signs including several cases of near misses, workers being verbally abused and damage to vehicles and equipment.

Inspector John Keates of the Roads Policing and Traffic Management division at Gloucestershire Police said drivers who ignored the signs would be fined or summoned to court.

“Gloucestershire Police is working closely with Gloucestershire Highways to introduce the use of enforcement cameras on Stop/Go boards and where evidence is presented to us we will be looking to prosecute those drivers who have committed such an offence.”

Temporary traffic enforcement signs will be on display where the cameras are used so drivers are aware of them.