A CAMPAIGN to protect the "unsung heroes" of the motorway network from death and injury has been launched.
New figures reveal that road workers reported 116 near misses on the motorways and trunk roads in Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester in the first six months of 2006 - up from 113 in the whole of 2005.
Last year, two men were killed on the M6 south of Lymm in May.
Although no fatalities have been reported this year, road drivers are being encouraged to take care.
Roy Wood, the Highways Agency area manager for Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, said: "It is very encouraging to get through the first seven months of the year without any of our contractors being killed or seriously injured in road works in the north west - that is not something we could say last year.
"But we must not become complacent. We have had 116 near misses already and this is a real cause for concern. I urge all motorists to slow down, pay extra attention and observe the speed limits when they see road works."
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