A new campaign has been launched by the Integrated Programme Alliance (IPA) to raise awareness of abuse against Birmingham road workers
This follows the reveal that 465 incidents of abuse against Birmingham road workers have been reported in the last three years.
The Expect Respect campaign has been launched to urge the public to respect its road workers.
Incidents of abuse include residents threatening road workers with machetes, crossbows and dogs.
Expect Respect was established by Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Highways Ltd, together with Kier, Arcadis, Tarmac, Highway Traffic Management and WJ Group.
Speaking on the campaign, Kier Highways site supervisor, Paul, said: “The people I work with are not confrontational. They are good people, there to do a job that they have been instructed to do. Yet they have been threatened with machetes, shot at, driven at, had things thrown at them.
“And what for? Just because somebody wants to drive down the road that must be closed for safety reasons?
“Road workers are there to do a job and earn a living. We should respect that and afford the people in these jobs the right to earn that living.”
Councillor Liz Clements, cabinet member for transport at Birmingham City Council, added: “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.”
