National Highways Invests £5.4m in Radar Technology to Better Protect Road Workers

National Highways has awarded a multi-million-pound contract to deploy a new generation of vehicle incursion warning technology designed to provide earlier alerts when motorists enter live work areas, helping improve the safety of frontline traffic officers and road workers.

The £5.4 million contract has been awarded to specialist engineering company Race Technology, which will supply hundreds of vehicle-mounted radar systems alongside wearable alert devices as part of a nationwide safety initiative.

The investment reflects National Highways' continued focus on reducing the risks faced by employees working on or alongside England's strategic road network.

Technology designed to provide vital seconds of warning

Under the agreement, Race Technology will provide approximately 400 radar-equipped vehicle systems together with wearable warning devices for frontline personnel.

The technology is designed to continuously monitor approaching traffic, automatically detecting vehicles that may be entering a work area or travelling towards stationary operational vehicles.

If a potential collision risk is identified, the system immediately issues an alert to nearby workers through wearable devices, giving them valuable extra time to move to safety.

In addition to supplying the equipment, Race Technology will also deliver software, technical support and training to ensure the technology is used effectively across National Highways operations.

Improving protection for frontline workers

Vehicle incursions remain one of the most serious risks facing road workers and traffic officers carrying out maintenance, incident response and emergency operations on live highways.

Despite extensive traffic management measures, lane closures and warning signage, work zones continue to be struck by errant vehicles every year.

National Highways hopes the new technology will add another layer of protection by providing real-time warnings when traditional physical barriers and traffic management alone may not prevent an incident.

The investment follows continued industry efforts to improve workforce safety through the adoption of advanced technology, particularly as concerns grow over driver distraction, speeding and incursions into temporary traffic management.

Direct award under Procurement Act

The contract will commence on 31 July 2026 and is scheduled to run until 30 July 2029, with options available to extend the agreement through to July 2031.

National Highways awarded the contract directly under provisions contained within the Procurement Act 2023, stating that Race Technology was the only supplier capable of providing the specific technology required to meet its operational needs.

Supporting a safer strategic road network

The introduction of radar-based incursion warning systems forms part of a wider programme aimed at improving safety for those maintaining and operating England's motorways and major A roads.

With thousands of traffic management operations taking place every year, National Highways continues to explore new technologies capable of reducing the risks faced by frontline teams.

The deployment of wearable warning systems and intelligent vehicle detection represents another step towards creating a safer working environment for those responsible for keeping the strategic road network open, maintained and operational around the clock.