Recurring concern

Uncontrolled roadside obstacles endangering road users

First to latest report 13 Jan 2014 — 11 Oct 2016

Reports that mention this concern
5
Times this concern has been raised
5
Stated actions linked to this concern
3

What this concern includes

Includes fixed, growing or otherwise persistent obstacles beside public carriageways where their proximity or development creates a material road-user hazard and the report identifies a need for removal, protection, containment or other dedicated control; this includes the maturing eucalyptus sapling and a dangerous tree trunk near a carriageway edge.

What is not included
  • Excludes general road-design, road-surface, drainage, lighting, signage and visibility deficiencies where a roadside obstacle is not the shared unsafe condition.
  • Excludes roadside vehicle-restraint barriers where the concern is the barrier's ability to contain an errant vehicle rather than the uncontrolled obstacle itself.
  • Excludes vegetation that merely obstructs sightlines or pedestrian movement without itself constituting a fixed roadside collision obstacle.
  • Excludes isolated objects or hazards away from a public carriageway unless the assertion directly identifies a comparable roadside-obstacle safety condition.

Reports and published responses 5 reports

See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response

  1. Hertfordshire

    AI-generated summary

    Vichai Tonpradit · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Vichai Tonpradit died after falling from his motorcycle on the A1(M) and being struck by a heavy goods vehicle and a small hatchback. The report identified a raised section of tarmac as potentially hazardous and a solid white line from a previous road layout as potentially confusing.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Potential hazard from a raised tarmac section separating a slip road from a main carriageway

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) The raised section of the tarmac separating the slip road from the main carriageway on the A1(M) approaching Junction 6 northbound is potentially hazardous. ”

    Source location

    Vichai Tonpradit · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Introduce raised kerbing to separate the off-slip road from the main carriageway.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “a. Highways England (as far as we have been able to ascertain) was not a party to the inquest hearing on 11 October 2016. The ‘raised section of tarmac’ identified as a matter of concern by the Senior Coroner, is a specifically designed and installed section of raised kerbing to separate the off slip road from the main carriageway at Junction 6 of the A1(M) northbound.”

    Source location

    2016-0380-Response-by-Highways-England
    Page 2 · response
    Published 11 October 2016

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    The raised kerbing was designed to current standards and safety-audited, so it is not treated as requiring further action.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “a. Highways England (as far as we have been able to ascertain) was not a party to the inquest hearing on 11 October 2016. The ‘raised section of tarmac’ identified as a matter of concern by the Senior Coroner, is a specifically designed and installed section of raised kerbing to separate the off slip road from the main carriageway at Junction 6 of the A1(M) northbound.”

    Source location

    2016-0380-Response-by-Highways-England
    Page 2 · response
    Published 11 October 2016

    Open published response

  2. South London

    AI-generated summary

    Robert Walker · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Robert Walker, aged 62, died from multiple injuries following a road traffic collision after losing control of his motorcycle on a bend on Old Farleigh Road on 4 August 2015. Concerns included insufficient bend deviation markings, a tree trunk close to the carriageway, and a slippery path leading towards the road.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Tree trunk near the carriageway edge presenting a danger to road users

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) The bend lacks sufficient deviation markings (2) There is a tree trunk near the edge of the carriageway that presents a danger to road users particularly cyclists (3) A path that approaches the road and is well used by walkers has a surface that could cause walkers to slip into the carriageway. (The matters of concern are summarised in the report of ████████ from Catford Traffic Police. An extract from his report is attached. ”

    Source location

    Robert Walker · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

  3. Manchester North

    AI-generated summary

    Georgina Lauren Taylor · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Georgina Lauren Taylor died following a road traffic collision on the A627(M), in which a vehicle lost control at excessive speed, struck a tree and rolled. The report raised concerns about trees and other roadside features near the carriageway, including whether they were adequately protected or should have been removed, and about the lack of requirements to reassess protection as roadside vegetation developed.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to protect or remove trees within 4.5m of the paved carriageway

    Wider context from the report

    “2. The introduction of the interim requirements for road restraint systems in 2002 identified that all trees with a girth exceeding 500mm (or several closely spaced trees) located within a distance of 4.5m from the paved carriageway require protection. The re-issued requirements in 2004 identified that trees above 300mm in girth should be protected by a suitable vehicle restraint system. 3. Current design standard TD19/06 includes a site specific risk process where topographical features, together with adjacent sources of risk are reviewed in order to identify the most appropriate restraint facility and containment levels and that in relation to the presence of trees adjacent to the nearside verge and protection requirements, it is unclear as to when these regimented and it is likely that they are all ‘self-seeded’ with the larger specimens being over 10 years old. Whilst the vehicle restraint systems in place comply with identified requirements at the time of the construction of the route, there are no current requirements to inspect soft estate as it develops in terms of assessing protection requirements. The application of more recent design standards would have required some of the trees at this location to be protected (as well as the lighting columns) or removed within the 4.5m threshold. ”

    Source location

    Georgina Lauren Taylor · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

  4. Gwent

    AI-generated summary

    JANETTE SUTHERLAND · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    On 24 October 2013, Janette Sutherland lost control of her vehicle near Risca, left the carriageway and collided with a concrete headwall, sustaining fatal injuries. The report identified the drainage channel and concrete headwall as hazards and raised concern that no safety barrier was present to prevent vehicles leaving the carriageway and striking the headwall.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Road-user hazard from a drainage channel and concrete headwall adjacent to the carriageway

    Wider context from the report

    “The presence of the drainage channel and concrete headwall represent a hazard to road users and a safety barrier should be erected to prevent vehicles from leaving the carriageway and impacting with the concrete headwall. ”

    Source location

    JANETTE SUTHERLAND · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Complete the detailed road-restraint site survey required for the Road Restraint Risk Assessment Process.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “In order to comply with current standards for dealing with the requirements for road restraint systems, a detailed survey must first be conducted at the site. The survey was carried out on the 27th March 2014 and the data will be retrieved as soon as possible for us to fulfil the Road Restraint Risk Assessment Process (RRAP). We will endeavour to complete the RRAP in a timely manner and will provide details of any findings/outcomes at the earliest opportunity.”

    Source location

    2014-0114-Response-by-Caerphilly-County-Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 13 March 2014

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Retrieve survey data and complete the Road Restraint Risk Assessment Process, providing its findings and outcomes.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “In order to comply with current standards for dealing with the requirements for road restraint systems, a detailed survey must first be conducted at the site. The survey was carried out on the 27th March 2014 and the data will be retrieved as soon as possible for us to fulfil the Road Restraint Risk Assessment Process (RRAP). We will endeavour to complete the RRAP in a timely manner and will provide details of any findings/outcomes at the earliest opportunity.”

    Source location

    2014-0114-Response-by-Caerphilly-County-Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 13 March 2014

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    The site complied with design standards at construction, so there was no design-standard departure requiring retrospective changes.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “A report undertaken at the request of Gwent Police concluded there was no departure in respect of design standards at time of construction and there is no mandatory requirement to implement changes in design standards retrospectively.”

    Source location

    2014-0114-Response-by-Caerphilly-County-Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 13 March 2014

    Open published response

  5. East Sussex

    AI-generated summary

    Mustafa Cicek · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mustafa Cicek died following a road traffic collision on the A21 when his Ford Fiesta left the carriageway on a bend and struck a fixed structure. The concerns identified included the bend being a collision black spot, inadequate chevron-sign visibility, a potentially hazardous sapling, and the need for a “SLOW” road marking.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Potential carriageway hazard from a maturing eucalyptus sapling

    Wider context from the report

    “(3) A Eucalyptus sapling has been planted on Highways Agency land between the front fence at ████████ and the edge of the carriageway. This will mature into a potential hazard and consideration should be given to its removal. ”

    Source location

    Mustafa Cicek · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.

Back to top

Data last updated 7 September 2026