Road incident data sharing
Lack of effective systems for sharing crucial road incident information, including accurate location data and 'damage only' collisions.
39 items
7 sources
1 inquiry
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Road incident data sharing has been flagged across 7 independent accountability sources:
4 inquiry recs
13 PFD reports
8 committee recs
1 CQC action
1 NAO rec
1 PHSO decision
11 LGO/SPSO decisions
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry Recommendations (4)
MAI-168 — Review Major Incident plans for joint working
Recommendation: Those organisations should consider what changes need to be made to Major Incident plans in order to achieve those aims.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-31 — Joint GMFRS/NWFC incident log review procedures
Recommendation: Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and North West Fire Control should conduct a joint review of the circumstances in which it is appropriate for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service personnel to check the North West Fire Control incident …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-4 — Appoint control room intelligence collators (Fire)
Recommendation: All fire and rescue services should consider appointing a person within their control rooms who, in the event of a Major Incident, has the sole role of gathering and collating all available information and intelligence, and sharing it internally and …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-2 — Appoint control room intelligence collators (Ambulance)
Recommendation: All ambulance service trusts should consider appointing a person within their control rooms who, in the event of a Major Incident, has the sole role of gathering and collating all available information and intelligence, and sharing it internally and externally …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
PFD Reports (13)
Leanne Gower
Concerns: Police do not routinely share damage-only collision data with councils, hindering effective identification of hazardous road sections and informed highway maintenance decisions.
Response (Northamptonshire County Council): Northamptonshire County Council states that the Department for Transport Design Manual is outside of their remit to review. They detail changes to the road network and skidding resistance policy, and …
Response (Northamptonshire Police): Northamptonshire Police will highlight concerns about collision locations to a small group of road safety problem solvers, briefing them on the specific incident and asking them to informally report any …
Overdue
Nicholas Stocks
Concerns: Police failed to fully report road traffic collision concerns to the council, and there are inadequate systems for risk assessment and urgent communication of needed repairs to damaged road signs and markings.
Response (West Yorkshire Police): West Yorkshire Police reviewed reporting processes for damage to street furniture, ensuring updated contact details for local authorities and using generic mailboxes. They have updated the Force Communications system with …
Overdue
Sean Salvin
Concerns: Inadequate information sharing, inaccurate incident location, and deficient risk assessments for highway hazards (including flooding and tree growth impacting lighting) contributed to ongoing road safety concerns.
Response (Sean Salvin): The council, along with other agencies, has developed a new Highway Flooding Priority Rating System, operational by June 30th, 2017. They've also improved existing procedures and protocols for information sharing …
Overdue
Mark Harris
Concerns: Police received incorrect name spelling and unclear instructions for a welfare check, indicating critical communication failures and a lack of agreed protocols between ambulance and police services.
Overdue
Lee Marsden
Concerns: 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.
Response (National Highways): 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 …
Response (North West Motorway Police Group): 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 …
Responded
Harry Simmons
Concerns: A dangerous road junction is prone to collisions due to drivers cutting corners, sun glare impairing visibility, and a lack of effective signage or road design to mitigate risks.
Response (Plymouth City Council): Plymouth City Council has designed a scheme including a humped zebra crossing, narrowing of a junction, and parking restrictions. They are bidding for funding to construct the scheme later in …
Responded
Stephen Cloudsdale
Concerns: Highway safety concerns on the A66 include inadequate lighting and warning signage for crossing vehicles, high traffic speeds, and an insufficient central reservation width.
Response (National Highways Ltd): National Highways is upgrading traffic signs and road markings, including interactive electronic vehicle-activated signs, in the area of Stainmore Cafe Services. They do not plan to install lighting or widen …
Overdue
Andrew Kitson
Concerns: A lack of comprehensive statistical data prevents adequate review of police pursuit risks and effectiveness. The current system places an onerous burden on drivers and limits pursuit managers' real-time oversight.
Response (West Yorkshire Police): West Yorkshire Police details actions taken in response to concerns about police pursuits, including re-evaluating local arrangements, liaising with national leads, updating training, and revising risk assessment processes. They also …
Response (Mayor of West Yorkshire): The Mayor acknowledges the concerns regarding police pursuits but states that operational policing is under the Chief Constable's control. The Mayor highlights existing governance structures and oversight of ethical considerations …
Responded
Nicholas Dumphreys
Concerns: Safety-critical vehicle information may not reach all police forces due to informal communication channels. There's also no policy to prevent faulty decommissioned police vehicles from being sold, and a lack of national garage standards risks inadequate maintenance.
Response (National Police Chiefs Council): The NPCC has reorganised its fleet structure and is establishing a new NPCC-led governance and delivery structure to oversee police fleet issues. They will also reissue disposal advice under NPCC …
Responded
Lachlan Campbell
Concerns: Poor information sharing between ambulance service and police, including incorrect call status and police not being given ETAs or asked about scene presence, led to significant delays in patient care. The lack of police-to-hospital conveyance options for urgent cases is also a concern.
Response (South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust): Police officers are being trained to dial 999 from the scene for medical support, and SWAST has implemented a new communication pathway to improve inter-agency information sharing. SWAST is implementing …
Response (Devon and Cornwall Police): Devon & Cornwall Police is participating in a multi-agency group to promote closer working arrangements between emergency services, with meetings scheduled to identify and address specific areas for improvement. The …
Responded
Nargis Begum
Concerns: The public lacks crucial understanding and awareness regarding their responsibility to report motorway incidents, despite existing SMART motorway campaigns, leaving stationary vehicles a significant hazard.
Response (National Highways): National Highways expresses sympathy and highlights existing measures to improve safety, including public awareness campaigns and the Smart Motorway Safety Evidence Stocktake and Action Plan. They urge road users to …
Responded
David Walsh
Concerns: Delayed reporting of road traffic collisions by Police to the Highways Department (annual review vs. immediate) prevents timely identification and intervention for highway safety improvements.
Response (Lincolnshire County Council Lincolnshire Police): Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire Police have agreed that every STATS19 collision form listing road-related factors will be highlighted within the wider LCC Highways Team for early review and action.
Responded
Martin Evans, Patricia Evans and Neil Errington
Concerns: The DVLA's over-reliance on drivers self-reporting medical unfitness is problematic, as some individuals with impairments may lack insight or be unwilling to inform them, risking future deaths.
Response (DVLA): The DVLA will review its guidance to clinicians on assessing driving risk related to medical conditions, to improve clarity and consistency, potentially including structured risk assessment tools and clearer expectations …
Response (Department of Transport): The Department for Transport will review the self-declaration forms and consider ways to further raise awareness of the importance of notifying medical conditions to the DVLA and the potential consequences …
Responded
Committee Recommendations (8)
#14 — Provide update on connecting homelessness data with public services and improve related data collection.
Recommendation: The Government should provide an update on its efforts to connect homelessness data with data from other public services, including health data, to take a more holistic approach to understanding the drivers of homelessness in England. It should also consider …
Gov response: 40. We will publish the homelessness strategy later this year. We continue to make progress in the meantime, including increasing funding for homelessness services in 2025/26 by £233 million. This increased spending will help to …
Under Consideration
#7 —
Recommendation: As with other age groups, rural roads pose a particular risk for young drivers, with three quarters of young driver fatalities taking place on those roads. We welcome the Department’s 2019 commitment to establish a Rural Roads Working Group although …
Gov response: The Rural Roads Working Group was placed on hold in November 2020 as Department resourcing prioritised COVID and Brexit/Winter Response work. To this end, all work on the Working Group has been officially paused.
Under Consideration
#2 —
Recommendation: The Department should commission a study of crash rates for older novice drivers and how the driver’s experience level contributes to these crashes. This would allow the Department to understand better the risks around older novice drivers and whether to …
Gov response: Evidence from around the world suggests that the increased risks faced by young novice drivers are caused by a combination of young age and inexperience.1 1 Alfonsi, R., Anmari, A., & Usami, D. S. (2018). …
Under Consideration
#1 —
Recommendation: Research conducted by the insurance industry shows that a significant proportion of older novice drivers—that is, drivers aged above 25 who are relatively new to driving—are involved in crashes. However, this is difficult to verify because official statistics are not …
Gov response: Evidence from around the world suggests that the increased risks faced by young novice drivers are caused by a combination of young age and inexperience.1 1 Alfonsi, R., Anmari, A., & Usami, D. S. (2018). …
Under Consideration
#4 —
Recommendation: The available data on the safety of all-lane running motorways are limited and volatile. There are only five-years of safety data available for 29 miles of all-lane running motorways. The Department and National Highways should pause the rollout of all-lane …
Gov response: 22. The Government agrees with this recommendation. We recognise the benefits in assessing the effectiveness and operation of SVD technology as it is important motorists have confidence in its accuracy and reliability. 23. The technology …
Accepted
#5 —
Recommendation: There are a number of factors that contribute to the higher proportional rates of young drivers in the casualty statistics. We welcome the Department for Transport’s Driver 2020 research project which is exploring several technological and educational based measures targeted …
Gov response: As mentioned in our answer to Recommendation 3, we can update the Committee on progress with the Driver 2020 project in July 2021, however we won’t have findings by this date. Initial findings on the …
Under Consideration
#4 —
Recommendation: There have been welcome reductions in the overall numbers of young and novice drivers killed and seriously injured in road traffic crashes over the past 15 years. However, this progress has now stalled. We believe that improvements to the safety …
Gov response: As mentioned in our answer to Recommendation 3, we can update the Committee on progress with the Driver 2020 project in July 2021, however we won’t have findings by this date. Initial findings on the …
Under Consideration
#11 —
Recommendation: Arrangements should be established and tested to allow immediate flows of data between bodies relevant to an emergency response with a mechanism to resolve immediately and decisively any disputes.
Gov response: The government accepts this recommendation. The government recognises the importance of data sharing across relevant bodies. Existing legislation, such as the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, provides a framework for emergency preparedness and response, including duties …
Under Consideration
LGO / SPSO Decisions (11)
21-016-501 — Leeds City Council
Summary: Miss X complains the Council failed to keep CCTV images that could have helped identify a driver that she says caused an accident, in which her car was written off. As a result she has lost out on her no claims bonus and insurance is much more expensive. We …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Upheld
Aug 2022
PSOW-202503972 — Welsh Government
Ms C complained that a Welsh Government body had not provided an adequate response to her complaint about the conduct of a member of staff. The Ombudsman decided that the body did not have a complaints procedure in place. Whilst it had responded promptly when the complaint was first raised, …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Nov 2025
22-007-895 — Cumbria County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the failure of a traffic enforcement officer to issue a penalty for a car which Mr X says was causing an obstruction. There is insufficient evidence of fault which caused any significant injustice to Mr X.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Oct 2022
23-018-205 — Liverpool City Council
Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to properly respond to his concerns about pavement parking which caused a road safety issue. When it did respond, the works it carried out were incorrect and not as agreed. We found there was fault with the Council’s response to the complaint and …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Upheld
Jun 2024
24-020-357 — Durham County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council are liable for the costs of damage caused to an unattended motor vehicle. This is because the courts are better suited to decide liability for damaged property and it would be reasonable for Miss X to pursue any claim through the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Apr 2025
24-011-449 — Lancashire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to carry out changes to the bus and parking arrangements where she lives. There is insufficient evidence of fault causing injustice which would warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Dec 2024
25-010-561 — North Lincolnshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council not taking responsibility for the timing of temporary traffic lights at highway works by a water company which it permitted, and officers not contacting the company after he reported the matter. There is insufficient significant personal injustice to Mr …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Dec 2025
25-010-369 — Essex County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to notify Mr X about the closure of a highway in his area. There is no evidence of fault on the part of the Council. The Council is not the highway authority for the roadworks in question.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Jan 2026
21-012-697 — South Gloucestershire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision on a temporary Traffic Regulation Order. There is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council which has caused any significant injustice to Mr X.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Jan 2022
21-011-604 — Cumbria County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the introduction of parking restrictions near Ms X’s home. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Jan 2022
25-009-340 — Suffolk County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council decided not to make an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order permanent. We have not seen enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to justify an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Dec 2025