UK Inquiry Tracker

Martin Saunders

PFD Report Partially Responded Ref: 2025-01202

Date of Report 23 April 2025

Coroner Kerrie Burge

Coroner Area South Wales Central

Response Deadline est. 18 June 2025

Road (Highways Safety) related deaths Wales prevention of future deaths reports (2019 onwards)

Judiciary.uk Report PDF

Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)

Reduced visibility, permissible right turns from a parking bay, and speed limits on a particular road create a high risk of collisions. Planned speed reductions may not fully mitigate this.

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The collision occurred on the A4059, New Road, Mountain Ash near the exit of a parking bay located on the east side of the carriageway. The parking area can be busy. At the time of the collision, the speed limit on the road was 60 mph and there was no prohibition on making right turns from the layby. The combination of reduced visibility due to the bends in the road, speed and right turns across the carriageway increases the risk of road traffic collisions. Changes are in progress to reduce the maximum speed limit but even allowing for this, I remain concerned there is a risk of future deaths occurring along this route unless action is taken, due to vehicles turning right across the carriageway from the layby on this stretch of road.

Responses

Welsh Government Devolved Administration

Noted
The Welsh Government states that the A4059 is a local road and the responsibility of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, and forwards the report's recommendations to RCTCBC. (AI summary)

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Dear Ms Everett Thank you for your letter: The Welsh Government and its Ministers are the Highway Authority responsible for the Motorway & Trunk Road Network in Wales: The A4059 is a local road and the responsibility of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (RCTCBC) as the local Highway Authority. We would therefore ask that you forward the report's recommendations to RCTCBC. Details of how to contact the council can be found online at Contact us Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council:

Sent To

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Welsh Government

Response Status

Linked responses 1 of 2

56-Day Deadline 18 Jun 2025

About PFD responses

Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Report Sections

Investigation and Inquest

On 26 June 2023, I commenced an investigation into the death of Martin Robert SAUNDERS. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 23rd. April 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision. The medical cause of death was 1a Blunt Head Injury, including Basal Skull Fracture

Circumstances of the Death

These were recorded as follows: Martin Robert Saunders, aged 48, died on A4059 New Road Mountain Ash, on 17th. June

Phone/Ffôn (01443) 281100 Fax/Ffacs (01443) 485862 2023, which is a 60 mph road, with laybys and bends, locally described as a dangerous road. Martin’s motorbike collided with a coach which had been making a right turn from a layby / parking area. A sweeping bend approaching the layby reduces visibility for those approaching or exiting it. Martin’s motorbike was not visible to the driver when he began his manoeuvre and Martin’s reaction time when faced with the coach was further reduced because he had been overtaking other vehicles on the approach to the layby. Despite best resuscitation efforts, Martin was declared deceased at the scene. Conclusion: Road Traffic Collision