Jamil Ahmed
PFD Report
All Responded
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 10 Jan 2020
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
The use of hard shoulders as running lanes on smart motorways creates a severe risk of collisions with stationary vehicles, especially given high speeds and limited escape options on elevated stretches.
View full coroner's concerns
During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern when a hard shoulder is used as a running lane.
Whilst any vehicle may break down on any road, in relation to motorways: (1) drivers do not expect to come across a stationary vehicle in a running lane, (2) the speed of traffic is high, (3) the volume of traffic is high increasing the number of people affected by a stationary vehicle, (4) the options for the occupants of a stationary vehicle to escape the road are more limited, and (5) not all stretches of motorway are necessarily appropriate for use as ‘smart’ motorways ; For example, the stretch of motorway in question was raised with a significant drop next to the hard shoulder, as opposed to a
stretch of hard shoulder adjacent to a bank or field. All five matters mean it is less likely other drivers will be able to take evasive action when confronted with a stationary vehicle.
In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.
Whilst any vehicle may break down on any road, in relation to motorways: (1) drivers do not expect to come across a stationary vehicle in a running lane, (2) the speed of traffic is high, (3) the volume of traffic is high increasing the number of people affected by a stationary vehicle, (4) the options for the occupants of a stationary vehicle to escape the road are more limited, and (5) not all stretches of motorway are necessarily appropriate for use as ‘smart’ motorways ; For example, the stretch of motorway in question was raised with a significant drop next to the hard shoulder, as opposed to a
stretch of hard shoulder adjacent to a bank or field. All five matters mean it is less likely other drivers will be able to take evasive action when confronted with a stationary vehicle.
In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.
Responses
Sent To
- National Highways
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
10 Jan 2020
All responses received
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Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 24/08/2017 I commenced an investigation into the death of Jamil Ahmed. The investigation concluded at the end of an inquest on 22nd January 2018. The conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision.
Circumstances of the Death
On the morning of 18 August 2017 the M6 motorway section passing through the northerly outskirts of Birmingham City Centre was congested and the automated ‘smart’ motorway system permitted vehicles to use the hard shoulder as a temporary running lane. There were intermittent Emergency Refuge Areas. Mr Ahmed was travelling in his low‐loader lorry along the hard shoulder on the southbound section between junctions 6 and 5 which are 1.6 miles apart. To the nearside of this section of the hard shoulder was a barrier and significant drop. At around 09.13hrs his vehicle came to a stop. The nearest Emergency Refuge Area was 300 meters further forward. Mr Ahmed activated his hazard lights, exited his lorry, opened the bonnet and stood looking into the engine. The maximum speed limit was 60mph and 135 seconds after stopping, a lorry travelling at 55mph, drove into the rear of Mr Ahmed’s lorry causing him fatal injuries. This preceded a number of approaching vehicles, including large lorries, narrowly avoided a similar collision by veering into lane 1, which was busy with other vehicles. A post‐mortem examination revealed the cause of death was multiple injuries from blunt force trauma. Toxicology revealed he has recently consumed cannabis.
Copies Sent To
I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner
Mr Ahmed’s next of kin
West Midlands Police
I am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response
Signature_________________________ James Bennett Assistant Coroner Birmingham and Solihull
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.