A former colleague of a road management worker killed on the Western Highway last month has told of terrifying near misses, and inattentive and frustrated drivers putting workers' lives at risk speeding through roadwork zones as he pleads for better safety at worksites.
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Paul Arber said he had been struck by a car, had bottles thrown at him from car windows and even been king-hit by a disgruntled delayed driver over many years of working in road management.
Mr Arber's friend and road management colleague Nick Kennedy, 59, died after being struck by a car while unloading items from his stationary truck parked in the emergency lane near Trawalla in October.
The pair struck up a friendship when they worked together on traffic control around Ballarat's GovHub site.
"When you spend time with people on the road you form a bond. You are always watching each other's backs out on the road - our lives are at risk every day," Mr Arber said.
"We are risking our lives just to make roads safer for growth within the community."
Mr Arber said drivers on their phones, and mums rushing to and from school, were among the worst drivers he had seen for disobeying roadwork speed limits and putting workers' lives at risk.
"A lot of people will be on their phone and they will be coming through a job site and all of a sudden they see the traffic stopped and jump on the brakes," he said.
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Mr Arber said road workers lived with the threat of death or serious injury as cars whizzed past them every day.
"We want to come home. We've got kids and families," he said. Mr Kennedy lived with his elderly parents and did the lawns and gardening for his elderly uncle who lives next door.
"It doesn't just affect the family, it affects the friends, workmates and everyone involved," Mr Arber said.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help support Mr Kennedy's parents.
Ballarat Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Stuart Gale said there were more road projects than usual running currently after wet weather in August delayed many, and more people on the roads after the end of Melbourne lockdown.
"There message I continually reiterate for drivers is to pay attention, be mindful of your surroundings, be aware of your surroundings and drive appropriately to the conditions you are confronted with," he said.
"The conditions you are confronted with means being aware of signage, of personnel working in the area, and being aware of emergency vehicles as we are working out there as well."
Sen-Sgt Gale said police would not hesitate to enforce legislation around road workers and roadwork zones and urged all motorists to plan their drive to avoid losing concentration and becoming distracted.
"Motorists need to take appropriate breaks and plan them, and travel at an appropriate speed to get to their destination," he said.
A Department of Transport spokesperson said temporary speed zones were established around worksites to protect workers, with signage of the speed zone managed by the traffic management company.
"Driver behaviour is the biggest single cause of crashes and all Victorians have a vital role to play in sharing our roads safely," the spokesperson said.
WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Julie Nielsen echoed the need for caution around road construction projects.
"As traffic increases across regional Victoria, safety at roadside construction sites is everyone's responsibility."
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"For employers this means identifying specific hazards before starting a roadworks project, communicating these to workers and contractors, and ensuring appropriate traffic management plans are in place."
"Road users need to remember that construction sites they see along the roadside are workplaces, so it's crucial to look out for workers, be patient and obey speed limits and all other directions."
Victoria Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash at Trawalla.
This week is National Road Safety Awareness Week.
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