Motorists are being urged to drive safely and respect temporary signs and signals along the A11 while a section of the road is being dualled.

The Highways Agency and Suffolk police issued the plea following an increasing number of near misses at a temporary plant crossing on the stretch between the Fiveways roundabout and Thetford.

Road users have ignored red traffic lights and driven through the crossing despite construction and farm vehicles travelling across the A11 at the same time.

It is the only crossing point currently on the scheme and is used when necessary to allow the agency’s construction contractors safe access either side of the site.

Clearly signposted crossings of this type have been used on the A11 since the start of the scheme in January 2013 and so far, road users have respected them and stopped when they were in use. But Highways Agency project manager Geoff Chatfield said: “In recent weeks there has been an increase of vehicles running red lights. It is very concerning that people are willing to put themselves and others at risk of serious or fatal injury. We are asking drivers to be patient and wait for the few seconds it takes for lorries to pass and the lights to change back to green.”

Chief Inspector Chris Spinks said the road is patrolled regularly and drivers who jump the lights could face prosecution for dangerous driving if a collision occurs as a result of a red light contravention.