Highways Agency

SAFETY

IMPROVING SAFETY FOR ALL ROAD USERS AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW SAFETY STRATEGY AND TARGETS FOR 2010.

These solar powered road studs on the A449 in Worcestershire were the first self-illuminating road studs installed on a British trunk road.

Cycle lane on A12 between Gorleston-on-Sea and Hopton-on-Sea near Lowestoft.

THE ENGLISH MOTORWAY AND TRUNK ROAD NETWORK IS THE SAFEST NETWORK IN EUROPE.

In 1999 against a background of a 4% increase in the volume of traffic on the network there has been a 1% reduction in the overall number of accidents. Unfortunately, this reduction in accident numbers is offset by an increase in the number of casualties including fatalities. There were over 39,000 casualties, of those casualties 4714 were seriously injured and 702 people died.

The Agency spelt out its commitment in a new strategic plan for safety, "Making the Network Safer", published in March 2000.This reflects the 10 Year Plan targets of reducing by a third the number of fatalities and serious casualties, and reducing the slight casualty rate by ten per cent.

Major road improvements, even those focused on delivering economic objectives such as regeneration and supporting prosperity, deliver significant accident savings by providing safer and healthier communities. For example, the new dual carriageway improvement of the A30 between Honiton and Exeter is expected to save around 100 lives over 30 years as well as improving life in the communities previously severed by heavy traffic.

Quality and timely maintenance also has a key role to play by ensuring that the skid resistance of road surfaces is maintained and that road markings are clear. Also vitally important are smaller scale safety schemes aimed at resolving local safety issues quickly and these remain a high priority in our programme of Local Network Management Schemes.

Such schemes may involve conventional engineering solutions, but new techniques and solutions are being developed all the time and added to the Agency's revised Toolkit of ideas to enhance network operation and safety.

Trials of solar powered road studs have taken place from which results show improvements to the visibility of road markings at night and in rain or fog. New innovations tested last year include wet night visibility road markings that break the mirror like film caused by rain which makes conventional markings difficult to see. They are also easier to see than conventional markings when the sun is at a low angle.

The continuing search for innovative ways of improving the safety of our network and the safety of those who travel, and work on it is underpinned by the Agency's Research and Development programme. For example, research into accidents on motorway hard shoulders has improved our understanding of the hazards facing drivers, vehicle recovery operators, police and maintenance workers that will feed into the development of new working practices. Similarly, research found that wetted salt was more effective than dry salt in the prevention of ice, resulting in new operational guidelines.

Case Study

In the interest of road safety the Agency has distributed reflective teddy bears for children to wear.

Improving the safety of the motorway and trunk road network cannot be achieved by the Agency alone. It requires a partnership of all those with a shared goal of reducing the toll of accidents on the road network, including the Department of the Environment,Transport and the Regions, police forces, local authorities, motoring organisations, and other interest groups.

A network of Safer Routes to Schools was developed by the Agency in Bedfordshire after consultation with parents, teachers, residents and more than 2000 children. The scheme, a joint pilot project between the Agency and Bedfordshire County Council, aims to make it safer for children to walk and cycle to school. Options put forward at public exhibitions included improved crossing facilities, cycle tracks, a better and more consistent signing and marking system, coloured surfacing, and protective railings and bollards. We are now working with our partners to carry out all the necessary improvements within three years.