Highways Agency

Safety is achieved through the application of high-quality engineering design standards based on sound research, and this has been the focus for the Agency in the operation and management of the strategic road network. It has made a significant contribution to reducing accidents.

Our network of motorways, dual carriageways and single carriageway roads, both urban and rural, carries about a third of all traffic but accounts for only about an eighth of accidents. We have been set casualty reduction targets as part of the Government's ten-year plan for transport. By 2010, we are expected to contribute to delivering on our trunk roads:

• a 33% reduction in the number of killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties;
• a 10% reduction in the rate of slight casualties; and
• a contribution to the national target of a 50% reduction in child casualties.

KSI Casualty Target

view larger image

This requires us to reduce accidents on our network by around 500 each year. In 2004 we must reduce the annual total of killed or seriously injured casualties to 4159 to keep us on track to deliver the 2010 target. In addition, we need to reduce the slight casualty rate to 21.04 casualties per 100 million vehicle kms to ensure that the 10% reduction in casualty rate is achieved by 2010.

Focusing on the future

We are not content simply to meet our safety targets and intend to maximise the benefits from our safety schemes. We have identified those sections of the strategic road network where the accident rates for the year 2000 were significantly higher than expected and will use this information to focus our safety investigations and help prioritise the delivery of our accident reduction.

Reducing the risks for our road workers

Our construction sites and the network itself can be extremely hazardous environments in which to work. Measures have already been introduced that have reduced accidents at major road works on motorways to similar levels as if the works were not present. We are committed to reducing further the risks to our staff and those to our contractors who work on our roads.

This will be achieved through improving the layout of roads and traffic management arrangements at roadworks, and building on our existing partnerships with industry to train the workforce, and to raise the safety standard of equipment and working practices.

Working in partnership to improve driver standards

To achieve our safety targets, the Agency will adopt a number of new approaches. We will work with others, including other DfT agencies, police, local authorities and other interested organisations to raise driver awareness about safety issues and to promote better driving practice.

Research in support of safety

Underpinning our safety improvements is a programme of safety research targeted on specific user groups or vehicle types, such as large goods vehicles, and specific road accident types such as shunt accidents. We are:

• developing systems for reducing the number and severity of accidents on motorway hard shoulders and those resulting from drivers not maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles;
• developing systems for improving the safety of road workers when working near overhead electric cables;
• developing an integrated method of examining, assessing and managing the safety of routes using a combination of accident analysis, visual inspection, hazard identification and risk management; and
• improving the design of road markings at motorway and dual carriageway trunk road junctions.

Maintaining the network

Maintaining the network to keep it safe and available for use accounts for the largest portion of our budget at some £730 million. Recent surveys confirm the network remains in good condition. In order to keep it that way we carry out a wide range of activities, including:

• Regular inspections to identify where maintenance is needed;
• Repair and reconstruction of roads and bridges;
• Resurfacing roads;
• Keeping the motorways clean, removing debris;
• Maintaining network lighting equipment and communications systems e.g. emergency phones, electronic information signs; and
• Salting roads for winter conditions.

To minimise disruption, maintenance takes place outside peak hours wherever possible. The Public Accounts Committee in their September 2003 report on road maintenance endorsed this approach. We will continue to look for ways further to improve our maintenance activities by:

• increasing the use of new technology such as laser, ultrasonic, infrared and radar surveys
• with the overriding objective of collecting all condition data at normal traffic speed, to help predict when maintenance is required more cost effectively and safely;
• taking every opportunity to use local recycled materials, to deliver both best value and avoid the need for long haulage on heavily trafficked routes; and
• investigating the use of new repair materials, such as carbon fibre plates for bridge strengthening and glass waste in road repairs.

These will all contribute towards the aim of maintaining the network at minimum whole life cost, ensuring the right works, at the right time in the right place.

The impact of the weather

Sometimes maintenance and road building have to be delayed whilst road-salting and snowclearing are started at very short notice.

Over the past year we have tested and retested our winter service plans. We will ensure, through our contractors, that gritters and snow ploughs are ready for use on 24-hour standby and that our contractors receive up-to-the-minute weather information from the Met Office. When we get a warning all motorways and trunk roads will be pre-salted and we will do our best to ensure all motorways and trunk roads in England remain open during the bad conditions.

Our paramount concern is that road users are able to continue their journey safely. We will continue to ensure that drivers are made aware of the importance of being prepared when driving in poor conditions, through our communications, in support of the Department for Transport's Think! campaign.

Six key "safe driving" messages during the winter months.

• The British winter is unpredictable. If you must drive during severe weather, make sure you are prepared for the conditions.
• Check local and national weather forecasts. Listen to travel information on radio.
• Take care around gritters and snowploughs. Don't be tempted to overtake snowploughs by squeezing into partially cleared lanes.
• It can take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions. Allow extra room to slow down and stop.
• Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking
• and acceleration. If you start to skid, gently ease off the accelerator and try to avoid braking. If braking becomes necessary, brake very gently.
• When driving in snow, make sure you're equipped with warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade.