Highways Agency

Chapter 5 - Safety

Where the Agency is now

10 Year Plan related outcome:

A one-third reduction on the strategic road network by 2010 of the number of people killed or seriously injured and a 10% reduction in the slight casualty rate.

Where the Agency is now

The Agency's network has an excellent safety record, and is one of the safest in the world (Transport Statistics Great Britain 2001 Edition & DTLR Statistics Branch). It is improving on this record by contributing to the Government's challenging accident reduction targets and has also set up a team to improve safety for the Agency's contractors and staff carrying out work on the network. The Agency works closely on safety education with a wide range of partners including the police and other public bodies to increase road safety awareness and encourage safer driving behaviour.

The majority of accidents on the network are related to speed (TRL Report 323: "A new system for recording contributory factors in road accidents"). Tackling these involves a combination of measures including:

• small-scale local safety schemes, including junction improvements, traffic-calming measures and better lighting.
• keeping the road well maintained, including the use of skid resistant road surfaces and 'rumble strips'.
• use of technology such as queue detection systems and electronic message signing to give drivers advance warning of hazards ahead.
• electronic speed limit signs, which reduce speeds in bad weather and during congestion.
• working closely with the police to improve speed enforcement.
• carrying out major schemes, many of which will deliver significant safety benefits.

Although most casualties on the network are car drivers and their passengers (81%), the Agency is also working to improve safety for non-motorised users. Measures include:

• a programme of improved crossing points for pedestrians, including disabled users.
• improved facilities for cyclists, horse riders and other users.

The Agency also carries out research into the causes of accidents. This information is used to monitor the effectiveness of its safety schemes and identify ways to further improve safety for all road users.

Road Deaths per 100,000 population in 1999

The causes of road accidents

In the majority of cases, road accidents are linked to driving at excessive or inappropriate speed and bad or inconsiderate driving. Other factors include driver fatigue, poor weather, and mechanical failure.

Where the Agency wants to be by 2004/05

The Agency is focused on achieving a reduction of 832 killed & seriously injured casualties (compared to the 1994/98 average) by 2004/05. This represents significant progress (40%) towards the target of a one-third reduction by 2010. The Agency also expects to have achieved almost 60% of its 10 Year Plan target of a 10% reduction in slight accidents.

The Agency will deliver these reductions by delivering the safety benefits associated with the major schemes programme, carrying out an extensive programme of small-scale safety schemes targeted at accident black spots, through better road design and by participating in driver education campaigns and schools safety initiatives. The Agency will also be carrying out extensive safety related research including:

• working with DTLR on their on-the-spot accident investigation project. Through working with the police and others to investigate causes of accidents from data collected at the scene, this project will identify ways to improve road scheme design, road and vehicle engineering and assist in developing driver education programmes.
• developing new systems to improve the safety on the hard shoulder of motorways of those who need to stop or carry out work on the network.
• looking at whether changes in the design of roundabouts could improve safety.
• completing a crossing point survey (e.g. of pedestrian bridges, subways and signalled crossings) and developing an action plan to improve these if necessary.
• working with others to develop safer, more sustainable school travel.

What the Agency will deliver in 2002/03

Early action schemes

Completion of the remaining schemes from the programme of safety early action schemes.

Deliver a programme of local safety schemes at sections of road or junctions where accident investigations have identified a problem.

Begin the installation of improved emergency telephones. These will offer improved facilities to all our customers and will include specific measures to make them easier to use by disabled road users.

How performance will be measured

The Performance Indicators set for the Agency by the Secretary of State are:

Indicator: Demonstrate progress towards achieving the safety targets for motorways and trunk roads set out in Strategic Roads 2010 (see Annex A4).

Targets: Reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on trunk roads in 2002/03 by at least 555 to 4436 (compared with the 1994-98 average of 4991).

Reduce the slight casualty rate to no more than 21.41 slight casualties per hundred million-vehicle km (compared with the 1994-98 average of 22.14)

In each case, to allow for expected year-to-year fluctuations in casualty levels, the Agency will be deemed to have met the target if the reduction achieved is no more than 5% above the milestone target figures.

Indicator: Number of safety early action schemes completed.

Target: Complete the remaining schemes in the programme.