Passing roadwork sites and escort vehicles

Efforts are made to schedule roadworks so that they cause as little disturbance to traffic as possible and so that work will be safer. The use of escort vehicles reduces the speed of vehicles passing work sites and increases safety at these sites. The most important thing for safe traffic and working conditions is to comply with reduced speed limits.

Slow down and take note of the people working on the road 

Attention, care and compliance with reduced speed limits are all important near resurfacing roadworks. Speed limits benefit motorists and other road users as well as the workers themselves: it is partly due to such limits that the roads do not need to be closed during the resurfacing work, but instead one of the lanes can be kept open. By maintaining the appropriate speed, one can be better prepared for different situations that may arise. Drivers approaching roadwork sites must also maintain a sufficient safety distance from the vehicle ahead of them.

It is a good idea to prepare for roadwork sites and speed limits already when planning a journey. For example, you can check the location of roadwork sites from the Traffic Situation service. 

Even if the resurfacing work seems to be complete at a particular work site, the road markings may not yet have been added, in which case the reduced speed limits still apply. Road marking work is sometimes completed only 2 to 3 weeks after the resurfacing work has been done. 

Escort vehicles prevent traffic accidents

Escort vehicles contribute to the safety of road users and people working on the road. The escort vehicle arrives at the gate where vehicles are waiting and then guides them past the work site. The escort vehicle can be recognized by its hazard lights, its ‘escort vehicle’ sign, and its lighting panel which is used to give directions to the road users. 

Escort vehicles are used at many resurfacing work sites that are either single carriageway roads or roads with lots of traffic. The use of escort vehicles is recommended during resurfacing work except in the following situations: 

  • on double carriageways
  • if the road section is short 
  • if the site is mainly located in a residential or city centre area
  • at locations with little traffic, totalling less than 1,200 vehicles per day
  • if the resurfacing work is carried out at night and traffic volumes are small