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REGULATION 29 RESPONSE TO A REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS THIS RESPONSE IS BEING SENT TO:

The Area Coroner for the coroner area of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, Daniel Howe, of Swann House, Boothen Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4SY in response to a Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths following an inquest into the death of Nathan Cyster that concluded on 27 January 2026.

1. NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

I am , Regional Director for the Midlands, National Highways Limited, Three Snowhill, Snowhill Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6GA.

National Highways was not made aware of the inquest, so we did not have an opportunity as the highway authority to assist you by answering questions at the time. However, we welcome the opportunity to address your concern relating to the highway and we hope our response assists.

On behalf of National Highways, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Mr Cyster’s family and friends and those affected by his tragic death.

2. CORONER’S MATTERS OF CONCERN

The MATTERS OF CONCERN raised are as follows:–

1. Hazardous right-turn manoeuvre across multiple lanes and road markings for vehicles exiting Moss Farm Shop when turning right.
2. Absence of left-turn only signage positioned at the exit of Moss Farm Shop.
3. Ineffectiveness of road markings at this location including double solid white lines and hatched areas in preventing prohibited overtaking by vehicles (including motorcycles) travelling from Cannock and the Turf Island towards the Moss Farm junction.
4. Ambiguity in legal guidance regarding right turns across double white lines.
5. In summary, the current road layout, lack of clear signage, ineffective enforcement of road markings, and legal ambiguities potentially create a hazardous environment for road users at the Moss Farm Shop exit.

3. DETAILS OF ACTION TAKEN

1. Right turn manoeuvre exiting Moss Farm Shop - To be answered by Moss Farm Shop. National Highways is not responsible for the control of traffic exiting a private business and is therefore unable to assist on this point.
2. Signage at exit of Moss Farm Shop - To be answered by Moss Farm Shop. National Highways is not responsible for signing located within private premises and is therefore unable to assist on this point.
3. Road markings on the A5 All Purpose Trunk Road (APTR) – National Highways Road Safety Engineers conducted a site visit to this location on 9th February 2026 to observe traffic movements, particularly any occurrences of overtaking in contravention of the double white line system. Further to this site visit engineers have undertaken an initial discussion of the results of the site observations on the 10th February 2026.
4. Legal guidance regarding right turns across double white lines - To be answered by the Department for Transport. National Highways is not responsible for the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) traffic signs guidance or the Highway Code.

4. DETAILS OF FURTHER ACTION PROPOSED

2 3 – Road Markings on the A5 All Purpose Trunk Road at the location

We will investigate the location to establish if any measures can be identified to reduce the occurrence of injudicious overtaking by drivers in contravention of the double white line system. This investigation will be restricted to the A5 within our jurisdiction and will cover road markings, signing and carriageway layout.

The implementation of any potential mitigation measures identified is subject to internal funding being made available based on the prioritised need of the Midlands Region as a whole.

The responsibility for enforcement of the double white line system sits with Staffordshire Police.

5. TIMETABLE FOR ACTION DATE ACTION

By 30/06/2026 Complete the investigation into the road markings, signing and carriageway layout with a view to identifying any mitigation measures. FY 2026-27 Implement any identified measures, subject to internal funding being made available based on the prioritised need of the Midlands Region.

6.

SAFETY OF ROAD USERS

The safety of everyone on our road network matters; it is an imperative for our business in what we set out to achieve and a core value of our organisation.

Every death on our roads is a tragic loss of life and we again offer our deepest sympathies to all those affected by Mr Cyster’s death.

23rd March 2026

Signed:

Regional Director for the Midlands

Moss Farm shop Wattling Street WS119ND 1st April 2026

Having read the report I can see that I can do very little to enforce the road layout and the guidance given to road users, as this is down to the highways department and the police to prevent motorists from breaking the rules of the road that are signed and have the appropriate road markings. I have taken away from the report that it is probably best if drivers leaving Moss Farm shop are advised not to turn right. I have asked Midland signs to prepare a sign with no right turn to go at the exit of the car park. I will get this done as soon as practically possible

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for your letter of 3 February enclosing a Regulation 28 Report following the conclusion of your inquest into the death of Nathan Thomas Cyster. I was very sorry to hear of his death.

I am writing regarding your concern about the current road layout, signage, road markings, and legal ambiguities potentially creating a hazardous environment for road users at the Moss Farm Shop exit.

The Department’s role is to set the overarching legal and policy framework, and to provide guidance to local highway authorities on how to provide various traffic management measures. National Highways is a government-owned company, established under the Infrastructure Act 2015, and operates at arm’s length from ministers. It is responsible for the day-to-day operation, maintenance and improvement of the strategic road network.

It is for National Highways to consider what road markings and signing are appropriate at this specific site as this road forms is part of their network. I note you have also sent a copy of the report to them.

With regard to the absence of left-turn only signage, this is a matter for National Highways to consider, taking into account the context of the site and what this could mean in terms of diversions for traffic prohibited from turning right. The Department provides advice on the use of hatch markings and double white line systems in Chapter 5 of the Traffic Signs Manual, available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual.

In relation to your comments on the double white line markings’ effectiveness to prevent overtaking in practice, the road marking has been prescribed in the

Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 2016 (TSRGD) and included in the Highway Code (Rule 129) for many decades.

The Department believes that the meaning of this marking is well understood by drivers. Regarding the evidence provided, this does not necessarily translate to a lack of understanding of the road marking. There could be a specific site factor that causes the prohibition not to cross the white line marking to be disregarded.

Thank you for flagging your concerns about an apparent ambiguity and contradiction between guidance in the Highway Code and information on a government webpage. The Department’s position is that there is no contradiction. The Department acknowledges that ‘Know Your traffic Signs’ (KYTS) refers to turning movements into or out of a side road, while the Highways Code refers only to the entry into a side road. This difference arises because the statutory marking requirements captured in the Highway Code apply only to traffic on the road on which the marking is placed, while the KYTS webpage provides broader explanatory guidance covering both the main road and the side road. We will consider the coroners’ concerns about this ambiguity at a future reprint of Know Your Traffic Signs.