Balfour Beatty deploys AI heat maps and body cameras to combat rising abuse against roadworkers

The construction giant revealed that workforce teams are facing verbal and racial abuse, physical threats, objects thrown from moving vehicles, and drivers dangerously entering live work zones on a daily basis.

Recent data highlights the scale of the crisis, with 1,160 incidents recorded in a single year – averaging more than three attacks every day.

In evidence submitted to parliament earlier this year, the company warned that as essential maintenance increases across the road network, these numbers are expected to climb even further.

Balfour Beatty reports 1,160 violence incidents against its roadworkers in a single year – averaging more than three attacks every day. Photograph: iStock

Speaking to The Times, Ben Francis, operations manager at Balfour Beatty, said: “There has been a huge spike in these incidents across the country. We had a driver decide to go through a road closure the other day; they mounted the footpath and drove directly at teams who were actually working. After they were stopped and asked to leave, they began racially abusing one of our operatives.”

In response to the surge in incidents, Balfour Beatty and the wider construction industry are fighting back with technology and training.

Workers are being equipped with body-worn cameras and trained to de-escalate volatile situations, while victims are receiving enhanced mental health and operational support.

The company is also leveraging AI technology, including an "Abuse Heat Map" designed to predict high-risk areas. This allows Balfour Beatty to deploy targeted security measures and support where they are needed most.

However, industry leaders emphasise that technology alone cannot solve the problem. Raising public awareness is critical to changing driver behaviour.

Matt Herbert, head of health, safety & wellbeing at Balfour Beatty, told The Times: “We need the members of the public to fully understand that these people are there to make their journey better, not to take abuse. We need a culture change.”

To watch a video on Balfour Beatty's end roadworker abuse campaign visit: www.balfourbeatty.com/media-centre/latest/end-roadworker-abuse