Incidents of abuse and vehicle incursions against roadworkers on UK roads will be recorded on a shared digital platform from this autumn. RAISE, the Roadworker Abuse and Incursion Safety Exchange, collects reports from multiple contractors and their supply chains to build a clearer picture of these risks across the network.
One system, many contributors
The challenge for the highways sector has been the fragmented nature of incident recording. Contractors typically log abuse or incursions through their own systems, making it difficult to see the full scale or identify hotspots. RAISE addresses this by providing a free central platform where data can be consistently submitted and accessed.
Developed by members of the Traffic Management Contractors Association, RAISE standardises reporting to show patterns of abuse and incursions. One report describes a single event; many reports combined reveal where incidents recur and help highlight vulnerable works.
Shared ownership builds trust
The platform's governance was recently agreed at a meeting hosted at McCann Ltd’s training centre in Nottingham. Companies House directors were selected, formalising the initiative ahead of its hard launch. Clear governance ensures contributors can trust that their information will be managed appropriately.
Leading contractors including Kier Infrastructure, Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Galliford Try, FM Conway and Costain have committed to submitting data alongside their supply chains. Industry bodies such as National Highways, CECA, HAUC(UK) and the Road Safety Markings Association also support the initiative.
For this sector, where companies compete for contracts, this willingness to share sensitive safety data marks a significant step. Abuse and incursions are risks that cross company boundaries and involve workforces moving between different projects.
What RAISE means on UK roads
Roadworker abuse involves verbal, threatening or physical behaviour against workers. Vehicle incursions happen when a vehicle breaches traffic management measures, entering a worksite area unexpectedly. Both present safety risks that RAISE aims to monitor comprehensively.
A consolidated incident dataset can reveal recurring hotspots or specific conditions linked to higher risk. This intelligence may influence how future works are planned and traffic management is designed. Highways authorities and contractors can also use the evidence to discuss workforce protection needs with clients and regulators.
Next steps towards national rollout
The initiative is preparing to present at the Local Council Roads Innovation Group’s Strictly Highways event, followed by a larger launch at Highways UK this autumn. Success will depend on broad uptake and regular data input across contractors, clients and supply chains.
The ultimate goal is not just recording incidents but generating a data-driven understanding of abuse and incursion risks on UK roads. Robust evidence can help the sector move beyond statements condemning abuse towards targeted action that improves safety on site.
