Christopher Tandy
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2015-0234
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 17 Aug 2015
Sent To
Response Status
Responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
17 Aug 2015
All responses received
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Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Coroner’s Concerns
A review of the signage and road layout suggest that there is opportunity to take steps to try to prevent a recurrence of deaths in comparable circumstances. A driver unfamiliar with City roads, having been stuck in slow-moving traffic through the city, and on seeing the road over London Bridge open out from, first, one lane, to two lanes then to three lanes, is tempted to accelerate to a speed above the new statutory limit.
I suggest that some improved signage is desirable, to remind drivers that the speed limit on the bridge remains 20 mph. I was informed in evidence that there is no prominent speed limit signage at the commencement of the bridge and that in other places in the City only the smaller 20 mph repeater signs are displayed.
A driver travelling from south to north over Southwark Bridge will see a large 30mph speed limit sign at the north end. If the driver turns right onto Upper Thames Street and then goes under London Bridge and turns left into Fish Street Hill, then left onto Monument Street and then left onto London Bridge there is no prominent signage to make clear that the speed limit reduces from 30 to 20mph.
Ideally, a separate lane for cyclists (e.g. as on Southwark Bridge) would separate them from vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Please will you give consideration to the issues raised by this case and arrange to assess whether it is feasible to introduce additional safety measures and improved signage.
I suggest that some improved signage is desirable, to remind drivers that the speed limit on the bridge remains 20 mph. I was informed in evidence that there is no prominent speed limit signage at the commencement of the bridge and that in other places in the City only the smaller 20 mph repeater signs are displayed.
A driver travelling from south to north over Southwark Bridge will see a large 30mph speed limit sign at the north end. If the driver turns right onto Upper Thames Street and then goes under London Bridge and turns left into Fish Street Hill, then left onto Monument Street and then left onto London Bridge there is no prominent signage to make clear that the speed limit reduces from 30 to 20mph.
Ideally, a separate lane for cyclists (e.g. as on Southwark Bridge) would separate them from vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Please will you give consideration to the issues raised by this case and arrange to assess whether it is feasible to introduce additional safety measures and improved signage.
Responses
Response received
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Dear Dr Palmer, My colleagues and were very sorry to hear of the tragic accident which occurred on 2 August 2014 and would wish to pass our condolences to the family of Christopher Tandy. Your Prevention of Future Deaths report dated 19th June 2015 has now been considered and would respond as follows_ In terms of general road layout in the vicinity of London Bridge, there are number of significant public and private developments currently in progress and others to be delivered in the near future, some of which have a temporary impact on road capacity and layout. In the longer term, TfL intends to publish proposals for improved traffic arrangements in the London Bridge area, intended to benefit road users in general, and cyclists in particular: The feasibility of a Cycle Superhighway across London Bridge is likely to begin in 2016, when various options such as full segregation will be investigated. Following this there will be full public consultation. concerns will also be taken into account in this process You refer to the prominence of signs at the commencement of London Bridge and that in other areas of the only smaller repeater signs are displayed. The 2Omph limit not commence at London Bridge, but continues over the Bridge. Larger terminal signs are used at the exit points to the 2Omph limit in Shoreditch High Street, and smaller repeater signs are used along the 2Omph route into King William Street and across the Bridge, which is in accordance with national standards: It is considered that providing large terminal signs at the commencement of the Bridge travelling north to south could cause confusion_ When the scheme was designed in 2014, the designers spaced repeater signs at the intervals that they believed would be sufficient to remind drivers that the speed limit remains at 2Omph: However; in view of your concerns, we will install an additional pair of repeater signs at the north side of the Bridge. The 20 mph scheme was introduced under an experimental Traffic Management Order. If it is to be retained on a permanent basis, there is scope for considering the spacing between the repeater signs along the entire route, and your concerns will be taken into account. 2 MAYOR OF LONDON 01548149 VAT number 756 2769 90 Roy the Your City, does entry bour 0
With regard to the route described in your report; as drivers enter Fish Street Hill Upper Thames Street; the speed limit reduces a short way up the hill on passing 2Omph speed limit signs That ZOmph limit continues into Monument Street and then onto London Bridge where there are 2Omph repeater signs mounted on the second lighting column and in clear view of traffic leaving Monument Street A recent inspection identified that the larger terminal signs in Fish Street Hill had been damaged removed, so that into the 2Omph limit that direction was not clear: TfL contacted counterparts at the of London Corporation; which is the traffic authority for the road, and which confirmed that the signs have now been repaired replaced as necessary. sincerely Managing Director Surface Transport from entry from City Yours
With regard to the route described in your report; as drivers enter Fish Street Hill Upper Thames Street; the speed limit reduces a short way up the hill on passing 2Omph speed limit signs That ZOmph limit continues into Monument Street and then onto London Bridge where there are 2Omph repeater signs mounted on the second lighting column and in clear view of traffic leaving Monument Street A recent inspection identified that the larger terminal signs in Fish Street Hill had been damaged removed, so that into the 2Omph limit that direction was not clear: TfL contacted counterparts at the of London Corporation; which is the traffic authority for the road, and which confirmed that the signs have now been repaired replaced as necessary. sincerely Managing Director Surface Transport from entry from City Yours
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 02 August 2014 we commenced an investigation into the death of Christopher Tandy (CT) born 05 November 1985. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 04 June 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was death by misadventure. The medical cause of death was multiple injuries due to a road traffic collision. Alcohol intoxication was a contributory, but not a direct, cause.
Circumstances of the Death
At about 19.30h on 2nd August 2014 CT was cycling north over London Bridge. The carriageway was clear of traffic on his side of the road, as shown on CCTV. For unexplained reasons his cycle veered across the northbound carriageway, struck the kerb and precipitated him off the cycle, his body then straddling the central reservation but with his head and upper thorax thrown into the offside of the southbound carriageway where he was struck by a motor car travelling south over London Bridge.
The car had travelled southwards from north London and entered the northern end of London Bridge, behind a London bus. As soon as he was able to overtake the bus, which moved nearside towards the bus stop, the driver accelerated past. The City of London collision investigator calculated the speed of the vehicle to have been 38 mph. At the time the speed limit on the road had then recently been reduced from 30 mph to 20 mph.
The driver of the car, a foreign national unfamiliar with roads in London, believed the speed limit to have been 30 mph at the time. Even had he been correct in his belief, the evidence of the collision investigator was that at 30 mph he would probably have been able to avoid the collision. Had he been travelling at or below 20 mph he would assuredly have avoided the collision.
The car had travelled southwards from north London and entered the northern end of London Bridge, behind a London bus. As soon as he was able to overtake the bus, which moved nearside towards the bus stop, the driver accelerated past. The City of London collision investigator calculated the speed of the vehicle to have been 38 mph. At the time the speed limit on the road had then recently been reduced from 30 mph to 20 mph.
The driver of the car, a foreign national unfamiliar with roads in London, believed the speed limit to have been 30 mph at the time. Even had he been correct in his belief, the evidence of the collision investigator was that at 30 mph he would probably have been able to avoid the collision. Had he been travelling at or below 20 mph he would assuredly have avoided the collision.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.