This document has been classified as: Protectively Marked Response to Regulation 28 Report –

-Road Safety Manager

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Response to Regulation 28 Report

Subject: Mason French

Date: 04/07/2023

Purpose of Report

This report is to provide a response from South Tyneside Council to the Regulation 28 Report to prevent future deaths ( ) regarding the Death of Mason French.

Background Information

The coroners report raised the following concerns;

Despite the safety improvements at the location of the road traffic collision, I continue to be concerned that without further measures cyclists in particular remain at risk in that area.

The Report also identified that the following action should be taken;

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action.

Proposed Measures Officers in the road safety team have considered additional measures to improve road safety in the location of the collision and along the entire length of Lizard Lane, Whitburn.

The options considered looked at the following road safety concerns.

• Visibility - the visibility coming out of the lane is restricted by the existing stone walls on either side. This restricts visibility between road users.
• Parking – Vehicles can park on Lizard Lane opposite the junction with the lane. This results in vehicles traveling Northbound on Lizard Lane, having to travel on the opposite side of the carriageway.
• Traffic Speeds – Speed survey data indicates that traffic speeds on Lizard Lane are compliant with the 30mph due to the existing traffic calming measures. Due to the residential nature of this section of Lizard Lane a 20mph speed limit would be more appropriate.

To address the above concerns, the road safety team are proposing to implement 3 schemes to improve road safety for all road users.

This document has been classified as: Protectively Marked Response to Regulation 28 Report –

-Road Safety Manager

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To improve visibility, it is proposed to reduce the height of the stone wall on both sides of the access to the lane, by approximately 1m. This will greatly improve the visibility splay and will improve the intervisibility between road users.

The proposals shown in Appendix A will keep the area clear of parked vehicles in the area around the collision. This will ensure that vehicles can remain on the correct side of the carriageway when passing the junction. The proposed parking restrictions will also look to protect the junctions of Highcroft Park, Westcroft and Maple Grove and further improve visibility.

To improve road safety along the entire length of Lizard Lane in Whitburn, it is proposed to make Lizard Lane 20mph. As traffic speeds are currently above the compliance level for 20mph, it is proposed to implement additional traffic calming to further reduce speeds. Appendix B shows the extent of the proposed 20mph Zone and details of the proposed traffic calming.

Next Steps

As the stone wall is a council asset, works have been programmed to undertake the visibility improvements at the earliest possible opportunity. As this will require traffic management on the highway, an application has been made for the street works permit to undertake the works.

The parking restrictions and change of speed limit require Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s). There is a formal legal process which must be followed to allow these restrictions to be implemented. This includes a formal consultation process with statutory consultees, elected members and residents.

The changes to traffic calming do not require a TRO however, there is still a formal legal notification process which must be followed.

For the measures that must follow the TRO process or legal notification, we cannot guarantee that the measures can be implemented as this would be seen to pre-judge the outcome of the consultation process. However, given the recent fatality, there should be sufficient grounds to overturn any objection on road safety grounds.