Highways Agency

Working Group Members

To: The Chief Executive and Board of the Highways Agency

Report of The Highways Agency Working Group to Review the Standards for the Provision of Nearside Safety Fences on Major Roads

I am pleased to present the report of the Agency's Working Group that was set up by the Deputy Prime Minister following the tragic accident at Great Heck, near Selby, on 28 February 2001, to review the standard for the provision of nearside safety fences on major roads.

I am grateful to my predecessor, John Kerman, for his work in getting the Group started, and for the time and input from all members of the Group. The efforts made by the Group in achieving so much in a short time is appreciated.

The Group has worked closely with representatives from the Health and Safety Executive who, on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), convened a separate Group at the request of the Deputy Prime Minister. They were asked to look at 'the risks arising to railway traffic from incidents where road vehicles have blocked railway lines, and to recommend how those risks can best be controlled'.

Both Working Group reports are required to be presented to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in the Autumn.

The Group has examined a considerable amount of English accident data and looked at practice both in this country and abroad. It has generally concluded that incidents involving a road vehicle reaching a railway line (supported by results from the HSC Working Group) are very rare events albeit with tragic consequences.

Our road and rail safety records in this country are among some of the best in the world and our highway standards are continuously improved in such a way that accident figures on major roads are falling. However, we must continue our efforts to reduce accidents and injuries and cannot afford to be complacent. There are no obvious gaps in our standard for safety barriers but there are some areas where improved advice should be considered. A better understanding of what lies behind the standard would aid the dialogue with other parties, such as the rail industry. The Group would like to see any new advice published at the earliest opportunity.

The Group discussed how the UK standard compares with international experience but due to the incomplete nature of the information available, it was not possible to draw firm conclusions. A review of the available information has shown that there is considerable variation in approach. When considering minimum standards the UK compares well with other countries. No data was available on how widely international standards are applied. But an examination of some major roads in England showed that installation is generally above the minimum requirement.

A common approach to risk assessment should be developed by the highway authorities working closely with the rail industry that ensures each others priorities are recognised.

The Group also found that better advice and standards for the provision of safety barriers on minor roads needs to be developed.

Ginny Clarke

Chair of Working Group

November 2001

Highways Agency Working Group Members

Chair

• Ginny Clarke, Chief Highway Engineer, Highways Agency

Secretary

• Alan Pickett, Director of Civil Engineering, Highways Agency

Members

• Geoff Allister, Director of Engineering, Northern Ireland Roads Service
• Alan Cooksey, Health & Safety Executive (left the Group October 2001)
• Ian Davies, Motorway and Trunk Road Manager, National Assembly for Wales
• Gordon Dennis, Head of Operations, Great North Eastern Railway (GNER)
• Robert Gifford, Executive Director of Parliamentary Advisory Committee for Transport Safety
• Dr Paul Jackson, Road Safety Division, Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (left the Group August 2001)
• Raymund Johnstone, Head of Bridges, Scottish Executive
• Alan Mills, Assistant County Surveyor, Hampshire County Council, representing the Institution of Civil Engineers
• Brian Poole, Durham County Council, representing CSS
• Kim Teager, Head of Structures Asset Management, Railtrack
• Marilyn Waldron, Roads Policy Division, Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions

Others attending

• John Robinson - Highways Agency
• Brian Barton - Highways Agency
• Paul Booth - Highways Agency

1. Jeremy Pinington - TRL Limited (Consultant)
2. Malcolm Macdonald - TRL Limited (Consultant)
3. Gavin Williams - TRL Limited (Consultant)