From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Transport Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road London SW1P4DR Paul S Cooper HM Acting Senior Coroner for South Lincolnshire Unit 1, Gilbert Drive Endeavour Park Boston PE21 7TQ Thank you for your letter of 4 April enclosing Professor Forrest’s Regulation 28 Prevention Report in respect of the death of Mrs Sheila Slater. Naturally I am sorry to hear of the circumstances of Mrs Slater’s death. I note the professor’s view that the design of the junction may have contributed to the accident and that there may be similar problems at other staggered junctions in Lincolnshire. The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, a publication sponsored by my department sets out the national standards for such junctions, however local authorities are responsible for road safety on the local road network, in this case Lincolnshire County Council. Section 39 of The Road Traffic Act 1988 puts a 'statutory duty' on local authorities to deliver an appropriate road safety education service and for the provision of a safe local road network. This includes road construction, accident investigation and analysis, traffic calming, setting speed limits and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. It is up to individual authorities to determine how they meet their ‘statutory duty’ and any decision about installing a roundabout on a local road is entirely a matter for Lincolnshire County Council. Highways England regional and area teams monitor local and specific safety issues and there does not appear to be a pattern of similar issues occurring at this type of junction. Highways England have been undertaking a scoping study with a view to updating the design guidance covering major and minor junctions and accesses, including this type of junction, subject to evidence and funding. The relevant team have been informed of these concerns.

I expect that Mr Alan Ball, the Road Safety (Accident Investigation) Manager who has also been copied in to the Regulation 28 Prevention Report, will be able to advise you and Lincolnshire County Council further in this matter.