National Highways has issued a stark message – ‘Kill your speed not one of our roadworkers’ – after Gloucestershire Police revealed more than 13,000 drivers have been prosecuted for speeding through the A417 Missing Link roadworks.

According to Punchline Gloucestershire the £460 million landscape-led National Highways scheme will deliver four miles of new dual carriageway, improving safety and reducing congestion, while conserving and enhancing the special character of the Cotswolds National Landscape.

For safety during the works, average speed cameras were installed in 2024, and figures from Gloucestershire Police show that since last November more than 13,000 drivers have already been caught speeding.

Enforcement of speed limits is a police matter and National Highways is responsible for operating and managing motorways and major A roads.

Today, National Highways warned someone could be killed on the A417 unless drivers cut their speed and respect the 40mph speed limit through the roadworks.

Celine Acard, senior project manager for National Highways, said:

“Safety is our number one priority. Tens of thousands of people use these sections of the A417 every day but for the sake of shaving an extra minute or two off their journey times some drivers are putting their own safety and the safety of our roadworkers at risk.

“Our staff and contractors are working around the clock to complete this project as quickly as possible, and they’re entitled to do that safely without the threat of being maimed or killed by someone recklessly speeding through the roadworks.”

National Highways says complying with the 40mph speed limit adds less than a minute to drivers’ journeys and spares them the inconvenience of a £100 fine and three licence penalty points.

(Pic: National Highways)