THE "completely unacceptable" behaviour of some drivers during major roadworks on the A1 has been condemned as the Highways Agency highlights the daily risk of death and injury faced by maintenance crews.

The agency said road workers had reported being injured by passing traffic, being verbally abused or having objects thrown at them by irate motorists at times of lane closures and contraflow systems.

Contraflows have been seen recently on the A1 in County Durham and North Yorkshire as carriageway surfaces have been renewed to cope with the pressure of daily traffic.

Two road workers were killed in 2000 when they were hit by a supermarket lorry as they put out cones in darkness on the northbound carriageway near the Kirkby Fleetham turn-off, north of Leeming Bar.

The Highways Agency this week renewed its safe driving campaign, aimed at reducing death and injury accidents among road workers, as work began to connect the newly-upgraded A1 motorway to the existing road system between Wetherby and Walshford. Work is expected to continue until the end of the year.

The work forms part of a £245m project to upgrade the A1 to motorway standard between Darrington and Dishforth and there are revived plans for similar work between Dishforth and Barton, north of Scotch Corner, at a further cost of £330m.

The Highways Agency said it had conducted a national survey which highlighted the risks faced every day by road maintenance crews.

It showed that almost one in five of the 400 workers who responded had suffered some injury, ranging from leg bruising to broken bones, caused by passing vehicles.

More than 75pc of respondents said they had suffered verbal abuse from drivers and 40pc reported having had missiles deliberately thrown at them.

Drivers are being urged to drive with care and consideration and to make sure they slow down, keep within clearly signed speed limits and pay attention to road signs and works traffic.

A new advice leaflet will be distributed by the Highways Agency at exhibitions and shows.

Protection given to maintenance crews working at night includes a set of alternately flashing lights mounted on the backs of their lorries.

David York, national traffic director at the Highways Agency, said: ''Today's roadworks are tomorrow's better roads, but the survey highlights the risk to the workforce and the completely unacceptable behaviour that staff have to put up with simply because they are doing their job.