First reported 10 Aug 2016•Latest report 10 Jul 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes recurring deficiencies or hazards in public-road surfaces that make vehicle grip insufficient or unpredictable, including early-life friction changes after thin surface treatment, slippery surfaces, standing water or ice accumulation, and failures to apply or maintain surface treatments needed to preserve safe grip.
Not included
Excludes vehicle braking, tyre, anti-lock braking, driver-competence and other vehicle-specific failures where the road surface is not the deficient hazard.
Excludes general road design, visibility, signage, lighting, junction and roadside-obstacle concerns unless inadequate or unpredictable road-surface grip is the shared unsafe condition.
Excludes pedestrian-only slipping hazards and non-road surfaces unless the assertion specifically concerns vehicle grip on a comparable public road.
Excludes generic highway maintenance or adverse-weather response failures where no road-surface grip hazard is identified.
Do not duplicate the existing broader concern about vehicle loss-of-control risks on hazardous road sections where the assertion does not specifically concern road-surface grip.
Reports
9
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
10
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2016–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
29
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Cornwall Council2
Department for Transport2
Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport1
Connect Plus (M25) Limited1
Cumbria County Council1
Derbyshire County Council1
Dorset Council1
National Highways1
Norfolk County Council1
Road Surface Treatments Association1
Transport for London1
Wessex Water Services Limited1
English county council3
English unitary authority3
Ministerial department2
Private limited company2
National road infrastructure body1
Public transport authority1
Transport sector body1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Concerns raised2
Failure to adapt vehicle speeds to the early-life properties of thin surface treatments
Unpredictable vehicle behaviour from reduced or changing friction during the early life of thin surface treatments
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
Research and road-user safety issues concerning thin surface treatments should be addressed by the Department for Transport and the Road Surface Treatments Association.
Stated by Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and TransportRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Site-specific surveys and risk assessments address gradients, bends, sight lines and any required mitigation, including warning signage.
Stated by Road Surface Treatments AssociationExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Design, specification, safety testing and execution of road surface treatments fall outside the association’s direct role.
Stated by Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and TransportOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Post-treatment skid resistance was above required investigatory levels, contrary to witnesses’ claims that the road was slippery.
Stated by Road Surface Treatments AssociationDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Norfolk
Concerns raised1
Slippery road surface
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Derby and Derbyshire
Concerns raised1
Defective and subsided road surface capable of accumulating ice
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Conducted a laser survey of Station Road to assess whether an actionable safety defect existed.
Stated by Derbyshire County CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 July 2024.
Action
Undertake full-width resurfacing from Melbourne View Hotel approximately 200 metres eastward to level road-surface deviations.
Stated by Derbyshire County CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 4 July 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The reported 37-metre-wide road defect was ice formation, not an actionable safety defect; pooled water was limited and typical.
Stated by Derbyshire County CouncilDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Quarterly inspections by competent inspectors were sufficient to identify and repair significant road defects.
Stated by Derbyshire County CouncilExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Dorset
Concerns raised1
Recurring collision hazard from ice on a steep, curved road section
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Conduct joint site visits with Dorset Police after every fatal collision, assess highway-condition factors, and take necessary mitigating action.
Stated by Dorset CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 February 2024.
Action
Dig out existing and additional drainage ditches to assist water flow at the identified location.
Stated by Dorset CouncilStatus unclearThe respondent did not make the status of this action clear when they made their response on 21 February 2024.
Action
Resurface the road and adjust its camber so naturally occurring surface water enters the existing drainage system efficiently.
Stated by Dorset CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 February 2024.
Action
Review the B3091 between Sturminster Newton and Shaftesbury within three months to consider additional proportionate improvements.
Stated by Dorset CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 February 2024.
Action
Review winter-service policy measures concerning water on the highway during precautionary salting operations, completing the review by September 2024.
Stated by Dorset CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 February 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Resources and practicability constrain winter service, so ice and snow cannot be prevented or cleared across all network routes at all times.
Stated by Dorset CouncilUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Persistent road-surface flat spot and associated aquaplaning hazard
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.18
Action
Commission an independent review of the existing fixed warning sign’s effectiveness and possible visibility improvements.
Stated by National HighwaysStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Install temporary surface-water warning signs at Marker Posts 36/7 and 36/4.
Stated by National HighwaysStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Implement a wet-weather monitoring protocol and activate “Surface Water – Slow” variable-message signs when appropriate.
Stated by National HighwaysStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Commission an independent review of the drainage system to identify improvements likely to reduce carriageway flooding.
Stated by National HighwaysStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Commission investigations into carriageway reprofiling options, including outline designs and construction feasibility and cost.
Stated by National HighwaysStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Carry out weekly visual inspections of slot drains and catchpit surfaces to identify debris accumulation.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Develop and operate a severe-weather surface-water response procedure covering patrol deployment, incident logging, secondary response and CCTV monitoring.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Develop and issue an inspection guide defining acceptable debris levels for hardstrips, central reserves and slot drains.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Trial catchpit sensors to monitor water levels and flow and inform intervention frequency.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Maintain the newly installed temporary flooding warning signs and inspect them weekly for presence and function.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Undertake scheduled drainage inspections, cleansing of blocked or silted assets, and sweeping of the hardstrip and central reserve.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Carry out vegetation cutting and remove excess vegetation from the adjacent landscape plot to reduce leaf burden.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Review drainage maintenance and inspection requirements, assess best practice and determine whether enhanced requirements are justified.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Review and develop contingency plans for proactive management of heavy rain, surface water and associated warnings or restrictions.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Investigate flooding-hotspot anomalies and identify justified potential improvements to the drainage system.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Assess carriageway profile and develop sufficiently detailed remediation proposals for cost-benefit analysis where issues are identified.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Review whether alternative carriageway surfacing could provide beneficial risk mitigation.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Action
Undertake a standards-based review of signage requirements, including whether the fixed warning sign should be illuminated.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 January 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
National Highways retains control of safety-critical technology, including decisions on speed-limit signs and variable message warnings.
Stated by Connect Plus (M25) LimitedRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Converging surface water on the A390 during heavy rainfall
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Improve drainage by installing combined kerb drainage, additional surface-water gullies, and increased carrier-drain capacity.
Stated by Corserv Solutions LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 January 2023.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Converging surface water on the A390 during heavy rainfall
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Erect warning signs on both approaches alerting drivers to possible surface water on the road ahead.
Stated by Cornwall CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 May 2021.
Action
Replace existing Coliza Hill slip-road gully grids with larger-capacity gratings.
Stated by Cornwall CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 May 2021.
Action
Undertake detailed drainage and topographical surveys of the main road alignment.
Stated by Cornwall CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 May 2021.
Inner West London
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide CSH road surfaces with increased grip for cyclists
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Cumbria
Concerns raised1
Failure to maintain the road surface in a safe condition
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes recurring deficiencies or hazards in public-road surfaces that make vehicle grip insufficient or unpredictable, including early-life friction changes after thin surface treatment, slippery surfaces, standing water or ice accumulation, and failures to apply or maintain surface treatments needed to preserve safe grip.
