Ayse Yalcinkaya

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2017-0422
Date of Report 27 November 2017
Coroner Thomas Osborne
Coroner Area Milton Keynes
Response Deadline ✓ from report 22 January 2018
All 1 response received · Deadline: 22 Jan 2018
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Unclear signage at a motorway junction caused driver confusion about lane usage, and the absence of a run-off lane contributed to queuing traffic.
View full coroner's concerns
(1) | was told by the Police Collision Investigator that the traffic had started queuing on the slip road at Junction 14 into lane one. It was suggested that there was some uncertainty by drivers using the slipway as to which lane they should use and that the signage is not clear: (2) was also informed that on the most recently build slip roads on other motorways there is now provision for a run off lane to be provided prior to the junction: Perhaps a similar lane could be provided at junction 14 of the M1? July
Responses
Highways Englands Other
22 Nov 2017
Action Planned
Highways England commissioned an investigation report addressing the Coroner’s concerns, the findings of which are being reviewed by the Highways England Asset Development Team to determine what action may be appropriate for further work in 2018/19. A Smart Motorway Project is also proposed. (AI summary)
View full response
1

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS RESPONSE IS BEING SENT TO:

1. The Senior Coroner for Milton Keynes, Mr Thomas Osborne of The Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ in response to a ‘Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths’ following an inquest hearing into the death of Mrs Ayse Yalcinkaya that concluded on 22 November 2017.

1 HIGHWAYS ENGLAND

I am Mr Jim O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Highways England Company Limited of Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, SURREY, GU1 4LZ.

2 CORONER’S MATTERS OF CONCERN

The MATTERS OF CONCERN were identified as follows:–

a. At the scene of the collision the traffic had started queuing from the slip road at Junction 14 into lane one of the M1. It was suggested by the Police Collision Investigator that there was some uncertainty by drivers using the slipway as to which lane they should use and that the signage is not clear; and

b. On the most recently built slip roads on other motorways, the Coroner was informed there is provision for a run-off lane to be provided prior to the junction. Perhaps a similar lane could be provided at Junction 14 of the M1?

3 DETAILS OF ACTION TAKEN

a. On 7 December 2018 Highways England commissioned our Asset Support Contractor, Kier, to undertake an investigation report addressing the ‘Matters of Concern’ raised by the Coroner.

Highways England received the “Fatal Collision 25 7 15, Investigation Report” from Kier on 15 January 2018. The report included observations of traffic flow, signage, and queueing at M1 Junctions 14 made on a site inspection from Kier Services Highways Division on Tuesday 9 January 2018 between 06:45hrs and 09:30hrs. These findings are being reviewed by the Highways England Asset Development Team to determine what action may be appropriate for further work in 2018/19. This review is to be completed by 31 March 2018.

b. The “Fatal Collision 25 7 15, Investigation Report” from Kier made the following comments in relation to paragraph 5 (2) of the Regulation 28 Report;

“It is not clear however to the meaning of the Coroner’s comment in item (2) with regards to the ‘run off lane’. This may refer to the lack of hard shoulder provision. On most motorway slip roads the hard shoulder extends the full length of the slip road and terminates at the highway boundary and ‘End of Motorway Regulation’ sign. In this instance on the M1 Junction 14 northbound exit slip, the hard shoulder terminates half way up the slip road.

4 DETAILS OF FURTHER ACTION PROPOSED

a. Review findings in the “Fatal Collision 25 7 15, Investigation Report” from Kier.

b. Highways England are currently proposing a Smart Motorway Project (All Lane Running) to be implemented between M1 Junction 13 to Junction 16 (Northamptonshire) on both carriageways. The proposal will increase the capacity of the main carriageway to provide an additional running lane by

2 converting the existing hard shoulder to a permanent running lane.

The technology delivered as part of the proposed scheme will enable the introduction of variable speed limits throughout the length of the scheme which will regulate the flow and speed of traffic approaching Junction 13 to Junction
16.

The proposed scheme will tie into the existing Smart Motorway (Dynamic Hard Shoulder Running) between M1 Junction 10 to Junction 13, and the recently constructed Smart Motorway (All Lane Running) between Junction 16 to Junction 19 to the north.

5 TIMETABLE FOR ACTION

DATE ACTION 7 December 2017 Commission Kier to conduct investigation report 15 January 2018 Kier Fatal Collision Investigation Report delivered 31 March 2018 Undertake detailed review of report findings. Summer 2018 Programmed start of works for proposed Smart Motorway Project 6 SAFETY OF ROAD USERS

The safety of our road users is an imperative for our business in what we set out to achieve, and a core value of our organisation in how we go about it. The proposed actions identified are designed in this light to help to prevent future deaths at this location.

7

22 January 2018 Signed:

Martin Fellows, Regional Director on behalf of Jim O’Sullivan
Sent To
  • Highways England
Response Status
Linked responses 1 of 1
56-Day Deadline 22 Jan 2018
All responses received
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 29th July 2015 | commenced an investigation into the death of Ayse Yalcinkaya, aged 35. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 22nd November 2017. The conclusion of the inquest was that she died as the result of a Road Traffic Collision. The deceased was driving on the M1 motorway on 29th 2015 when she was hit by a lorry and died from the resulting multiple injuries.
Circumstances of the Death
Ms Yalcinkaya was the driver and sole occupant of a stationary car waiting to exit at Junction 14 of the M1 when a lorry collided with the rear of her car It appears that the traffic at Junction 14 that was exiting the motorway had come to a standstill_ She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you have the power to take such action.

Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.