Road (Highways Safety) related deaths

PFD Category
Reports: 503 Areas: 68 Earliest: Aug 2013 Latest: 6 Apr 2026

82% response rate (above 63% average). 27% of classified responses show concrete action taken. Reports rose 56% from 32 (2023) to 50 (2024).

Response Status
Responded 411 No Response 7 Historic 84 Pending 1
AI Classification
Action Taken 27%
Action Planned 50%
Noted 19%
Disputed 3%
Based on 540 classified responses
Reports by Quarter
Clear
PFD Reports
346 results
Pathushan Sutharsan
All Responded
2021-0193 4 Jun 2021 West Sussex
West Sussex County Council
Concerns summary (AI summary) A road junction on the Downs Link remains hazardous for cyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians, lacking safe crossing infrastructure, such as a Pegasus crossing or bridge, and suffering from poor sight lines.
Action Taken (AI summary) West Sussex County Council formed a chicane, installed warning signs, and cleared vegetation at the collision site. They have also adjusted speed terminal sign heights for equestrians and plan to add red surfacing and additional hedge cutting this summer.
David Ormesher
All Responded
2021-0192 4 Jun 2021 City of Brighton and Hove
National Police Chiefs’ Council Sussex Police
Concerns summary (AI summary) Police protocols regarding the constant use of in-car radios and timely siren deployment were not followed, raising concerns about emergency response safety.
Noted (AI summary) The National Police Chiefs' Council acknowledges receipt of the letter and notes its contents. Sussex Police reviewed policies and procedures on radio use and found policy 594/2021 sufficiently robust. They have a Driver Behaviour Working Group reviewing trends and a point system for interventions. A training package is in development to remind staff of radio responsibilities.
Ryan Taylor
All Responded
2021-0176 25 May 2021 Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Cornwall Council and CORMAC
Concerns summary (AI summary) Converging surface water on the A390, exacerbated by heavy rainfall, creates a significant aquaplaning risk. Feasible drainage improvements have not yet been implemented despite a previous incident.
Action Planned (AI summary) Cornwall Council will erect signs warning of surface water, replace gully grids with larger capacity gratings in October, and undertake detailed drainage and topographical surveys. Further upgrades to the drainage system may be designed and implemented after the survey information is obtained.
Wilfred Breakell
All Responded
2021-0165 20 May 2021 County of Dorset
BCP Council
Concerns summary (AI summary) A lack of safety barriers between the highway and a storm drain at a road exit poses a significant risk of cyclists and vehicles falling into it.
Disputed (AI summary) BCP Council investigated the incident and concluded that it is not appropriate to introduce additional fencing to the inside of the bend on the slip road, but will continue to monitor the site in conjunction with the police.
Lynne Lawrence
All Responded
2021-0158 17 May 2021 Gwent
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Concerns summary (AI summary) An uneven pedestrian pavement creates a future fall risk, particularly for elderly individuals with reduced mobility.
Noted (AI summary) The council investigated the footway condition outside Alma Street and concluded that it does not meet the standard for intervention based on their inspection regime, which exceeds national minimum standards for safety and maintenance defects intervention.
Steven Oscroft
All Responded
2021-0162 12 May 2021 Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Paul Wainwright Construction Services L…
Concerns summary (AI summary) Unsafe industry practice of 'mounding' tipper lorry loads above side height, combined with inadequate sheeting systems that fail to cover the load, increases the risk of materials falling from vehicles.
Action Planned (AI summary) DVSA will work with HSE to amend load security guidance on GOV.UK to include specific narrative on bulk loads, aiming to have it ready by September 2021. They will arrange special road checks focused on bulk trailer skip lorries, starting in September, and produce dedicated communications highlighting the revised guidance. The company has upgraded its sheeting and restraint systems for all vehicles to increase load cover and security, and is having its Health and Safety Consultants design ongoing training criteria and schedules for drivers.
Caitlin Swan
All Responded
2021-0121 27 Apr 2021 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
CORMAC – Cornwall Council – Highways De…
Concerns summary (AI summary) A concealed road junction on a downhill stretch lacks warning signs, posing a significant hazard to drivers unfamiliar with the acute turn and stationary vehicles.
Action Planned (AI summary) Cornwall Council will erect additional warning signs at the Trebost junction at Tubbon Hill, following the coroner's recommendation.
Roy Evans
All Responded
2021-0112 16 Apr 2021 County of Ceredigion
Ceredigion County Council and Bucher Mu…
Concerns summary (AI summary) A vehicle should have been taken out of service due to multiple safety defects, including worn tyres and a fractured arm pivot, but remained in use after an inspection.
Noted (AI summary) Bucher Municipal, the manufacturer of the machine involved, asserts they were neither the user nor maintainer and their interventions had no bearing on the accident. They state the machine's manual specifies required maintenance checks. Ceredigion County Council outlines existing measures and improvements to vehicle maintenance and management systems implemented before July 2018, including documentation sign-offs, lesson learned processes, and monthly audits. They also increased the frequency of roller brake tests in December 2019 and undertook FTA audits in March 2020.
Danielle Broadhead
All Responded
2021-0104 15 Apr 2021 West Yorkshire (Western)
Roads and Highways – Kirklees Council
Concerns summary (AI summary) The existing road layout and measures highlighting the kerb need review to ensure they meet safety regulations, particularly regarding the commencement of the kerb.
Action Planned (AI summary) Kirklees Council will extend the northern footway by 18m to improve pedestrian crossing opportunities on Barnsley Road. These works are part of a footway maintenance scheme started on May 7th 2021.
Lee Marsden
All Responded
2021-0084 26 Mar 2021 Manchester North
Highways England North West Motorway Police Group
Concerns summary (AI summary) A significant delay in activating motorway warning signals and communication failure between agencies, combined with the lack of an internal review, indicate a missed opportunity for learning.
Action Planned (AI summary) Highways England and the NWMPG have agreed to add a free text description to the log to clearly identify the source of information. Police operators and supervisors within NWMPG will be briefed to add this plain language to logs, with a briefing note circulated to staff. Highways England will brief North West Highways England Regional Operations Centre staff and police officers on using 'free text' entries in incident logs, shared with all Regional Control Centres as best practice nationally. They maintain their existing policy for activating warning signals is robust and appropriate, and will not take further action on it.
Lesley Powell
All Responded
2021-0282 12 Mar 2021 City of Brighton and Hove
East Sussex County Council
Concerns summary (AI summary) Pedestrian safety on the A2100, Battle Hill, needs review following a fatal road traffic collision, highlighting concerns about highway safety for those crossing the road.
Action Planned (AI summary) East Sussex County Council is developing a potential pedestrian crossing scheme on the A2100 Battle Hill, with preliminary design completed and funding allocated in the 2021/22 Capital Programme for further development, subject to consultation and legal agreements.
Yvonne Copland
All Responded
2021-0067 8 Mar 2021 Isle of Wight
Highways – Isle of Wight Council and Ri…
Concerns summary (AI summary) The road junction has a history of serious collisions due to poor visibility, deceptive road layout, and inadequate signage/safety measures, despite being a high-traffic route.
Action Planned (AI summary) The Isle of Wight Council will commission junction designs in May 2021, conduct a design review and consultation in July 2021, commit to a design option in September 2021, tender for a delivery contractor in November 2021, and commence works in February 2022 to improve the junction. Ringway Island Roads will commission junction designs in May 2021, conduct a design review and consultation in July 2021, commit to a design option in September 2021, tender for a delivery contractor in November 2021, and commence works in February 2022 to improve the junction.
Zahid Ahmed
All Responded
2021-0062 3 Mar 2021 Bedfordshire and Luton
Highways England
Concerns summary (AI summary) The M1 'Managed Motorway' section lacks a hard shoulder, creating a significant risk of future deaths when vehicles experience mechanical defects and cannot pull into a safe place.
Action Taken (AI summary) Highways England notes the concerns and lists measures taken since the publication of a stocktake, including upgrading CCTV coverage, increasing the number of emergency areas, improving the signage, increasing education campaigns and the messaging that is shown to drivers.
Andrew Biddlecombe
All Responded
2021-0053 25 Feb 2021 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Emsworth Surgery
Concerns summary (AI summary) The deceased was not advised about medical conditions impacting driving ability or the legal requirement to notify the DVLA, and the practice failed to inform the DVLA.
Action Taken (AI summary) Emsworth Surgery has reviewed templates for chronic disease reviews to ensure they include questions about driving status. They have written to patients on Epilepsy and Parkinson's registers to remind them of their responsibilities to inform the DVLA, and sent a medication leaflet to patients on Ropinirole detailing possible side effects.
David Blinman
All Responded
2021-0054 24 Feb 2021 South Wales Central
DHL Supply Chain UKI
Concerns summary (AI summary) Deficient risk assessments failed to incorporate local knowledge, inadequately addressed vehicle blind spots during reversing, and did not mandate crucial mitigating measures like cameras or banksmen.
Action Taken (AI summary) DHL has standardised a base vehicle safety specification which is updated following incident reviews and technology developments, including fitting 4-camera systems to all rigid vehicles procured directly by them since 2015. They will also ensure risk assessors are aware of the need to use clear terminology when describing delivery control measures in the revised Nisa DPRA process.
David Lewis
All Responded
2021-0173 19 Feb 2021 Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire County Council
Concerns summary (AI summary) Drivers fail to notice a roundabout approached from a bend, indicating a need for further engineering solutions like rumble strips to provide additional warnings.
Action Taken (AI summary) The council has reduced speed limits, improved signage, and made speed limit signs more conspicuous with reflective yellow backing boards since the incident. They will also consider additional painted speed limit roundels and propose removing the short third lane by painting hatched lines on it.
Aaron Lauder
All Responded
2021-0021 Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Cornwall Council
Concerns summary (AI summary) The primary cause of the collision was an obstructed view for both drivers at the accident site.
Action Planned (AI summary) Cornwall Council has agreed to fund a scheme to improve visibility at the farm access, with Cormac's Safety Engineering team having begun the design process and work planned for autumn.
Daniel Hughes
All Responded
2020-0295 22 Dec 2020 Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
Highways England National Traffic Opera…
Concerns summary (AI summary) Road safety concerns at a blind bend include poor visibility for right turns from a driveway, inappropriate speed limits, and the absence of warning signs.
Noted (AI summary) Highways England reviewed the location and determined that visibility is the responsibility of the property owner, the speed limit is appropriate, and they are not permitted to place a concealed driveway warning sign. No action is proposed.
Holly Chevassut
All Responded
2020-0303 2 Dec 2020 Coventry and Warwickshire
GRS Recovery
Concerns summary (AI summary) Certain vehicle configurations, with low-height, protruding mirrors and guards, create a risk of serious injury or death to people overtaken by these vehicles.
Action Taken (AI summary) GRS Recovery has removed the offending mirrors, and rotated the remaining mirrors to reduce the width of the vehicles.
Ibrahima Yahaia
All Responded
2020-0262 1 Dec 2020 Bedfordshire and Luton
Luton Borough Council
Concerns summary (AI summary) The Busway has significant design flaws with numerous accessible pedestrian entry points, insufficient warning signage, and a lack of physical barriers, leading to repeated severe incidents.
Action Taken (AI summary) Luton Council is completing an updated Memorandum of Understanding with the police in relation to operations, traffic regulation and investigation of incidents, and have included the Health & Safety Executive in the process of reviewing safety measures. Any faded or missing signs on the Hatters Way section of the busway have been replaced, and the rest of the Busway is being reviewed for upgrading of signage.
Daniel Bancroft
All Responded
2020-0244 16 Nov 2020 Cumbria
Highways England Co. Ltd and Cumbria Co…
Concerns summary (AI summary) Dangerous road conditions on the A66 include a lack of pedestrian warnings, rapid acceleration onto an unlit section, poor lighting, and national speed limit signs placed too close to a roundabout.
Noted (AI summary) Cumbria County Council stated that the Road Traffic Collision occurred on the Highways England Authority's road network. They regularly meet with Highways England to discuss road safety but Highways England will address the issues raised. Highways England will install 'no pedestrian' signs and bollards on the A66 Stainburn Bypass within 3-6 months and also install pedestrian direction signing during the same timeframe. They concluded no other actions are required regarding speed limit proximity to the roundabout and lighting.
Daniel Waite
All Responded
2020-0241 16 Nov 2020 Mid Kent and Medway
Highways Department Kent County Council…
Concerns summary (AI summary) The A20 Ashford Road lacks parking restrictions and requirements for warning signage, allowing large vehicles to park unsafely and posing a significant risk to other road users.
Action Taken (AI summary) Kent County Council has installed 'clearway' signs and implemented a temporary traffic regulation order prohibiting parking on the section of dual carriageway. A permanent traffic regulation order with permanent posts and signage will replace the temporary order.
Brian Griffiths
All Responded
2020-0203 9 Oct 2020 Swansea and Neath Port Talbot
South Wales Police
Concerns summary (AI summary) An opportunity was missed to assess an elderly driver's fitness after a previous collision, highlighting the need for robust driver referral schemes to take unsafe drivers off the road.
Action Planned (AI summary) South Wales Police plans to implement an elderly person referral scheme by May 2021, informed by a similar scheme in Dyfed Powys Police, and are discussing implementation with Criminal Justice Services, the Motoring Unit and the Wales Mobility Driver Assessment Service.
Frazer Golden
All Responded
2020-0197 5 Oct 2020 County Durham and Darlington
Durham County Council
Concerns summary (AI summary) Confusing "SLOW" road markings on a 60mph road and a lack of warning signs or hazard lines on a bend with reduced visibility created a dangerous road environment.
Action Planned (AI summary) Durham County Council will remove two SLOW road markings and erect bend warning signs on both approaches to the bend. These measures are planned for implementation by 31st March 2021.
Ellie Isaacs
All Responded
2020-0169 7 Sep 2020 East London
Havering Highways
Concerns summary (AI summary) Obstructed driver views, a Pelicon crossing located after a high-speed zone, and high non-compliance with traffic signals at the crossing create a dangerous environment for pedestrians.
Noted (AI summary) TfL renewed the 30mph signs, resurfaced the Gallows Corner roundabout including renewal of surfacing and markings, and liaised with the Gallows Corner Retail Park to request maintenance of vegetation and trees. They will undertake a further safety review and address any further actions identified by 31 March 2021. Havering Council acknowledges the incident location is on the A12, for which Transport for London is the Highway Authority. While they undertook a site inspection, they do not feel that there are any actions Havering Council can take.