One in five large pieces of debris obstructing the UK’s highways this year belonged to the construction industry, according to National Highways.
Traffic officers from National Highways retrieved almost 10,000 large items connected to the construction industry between January and September.
Of the more than 49,000 items collected in this period, 9,685 were construction related, followed by 8,565 vehicle parts and 4,606 tyres. The rest were unknown or random, but included an abandoned boat and a fairground ride.
National Highways said its officers often have to close lanes or carriageways to remove large items and experience first-hand the negative impact obstructions can have on drivers and their safety.
It is urging drivers to ensure their loads are secured safely.
Figures from National Highways show most incidents logged this year were on the M6 and M1, followed by the M25, M5 and M62.
Of the items collected, most of them (9,795) were discovered on carriageways in the north west region, followed by the south east with 8,733 items and east of the country with 8,357.
The figures relate to large objects and obstructions removed from motorways and major A-roads managed by National Highways.
Marie Biddulph, regional safety programme manager at National Highways, said: “These items left on or alongside our roads can put drivers at risk, while retrieving them often leads to a road or lanes being closed, causing an inconvenience to other motorists.
“Our message is simple – dispose of your unwanted items in the correct way and secure your loads properly before you set out on your journey. Following these measures could prevent a collision and avoids unwelcome objects from blighting the environment along our roadsides.”
