Includes failures of roadside vehicle-restraint barriers and associated containment or redirection controls on public roads, including gaps, absent barriers, damaged or unreplaced barriers, and barrier designs that do not safely contain or redirect vehicles leaving the carriageway.
What is not included
Excludes pedestrian, bridge-edge, riverside and other barriers whose primary purpose is to protect people from falls rather than to contain or redirect vehicles.
Excludes generic road-layout, lighting, signage, drainage, maintenance or speed-control deficiencies where roadside vehicle restraint is not the identified unsafe control.
Excludes vehicle restraint or barrier failures in non-road settings unless the assertion explicitly concerns the same roadside vehicle-containment function.
Excludes barriers intended only to prevent unauthorised access where no vehicle-containment or road-user protection function is identified.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Department for Transport2
National Highways2
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council1
Cambridgeshire County Council1
Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation1
Devon Highways1
Gwynedd Council1
Lincolnshire County Council1
Stockport Borough Council1
Welsh Government1
West Sussex County Council1
English county council3
Ministerial department2
National road infrastructure body2
Devolved government1
English metropolitan district council1
English unitary authority1
Registered charity1
Sub-organisation1
Welsh county council1
Reports and published responses 10 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Hertfordshire
Concerns raised1
Gap in the safety barrier on the M1 southbound
Linked response
National Highways
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
National Highways
Clear trees within 5 metres of the carriageway edge along this section of the M1.
National Highways
Undertake the Road Restraint Risk Assessment Process to assess the need for vehicle restraint systems or other mitigations at this location.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
National Highways
The 260-metre barrier gap need not be closed because current CD 377 requirements apply only to gaps shorter than 100 metres.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
National Highways
Existing tree clearance and network safety monitoring are relied upon instead of upgrading vehicle restraint systems as a matter of course.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Failure to prevent vehicles from entering the canal at the end of the road
Linked response
West Sussex County Council
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
West Sussex County Council
Install reflective bollards along the canal bank to provide a clearer visual indication of the road end.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
West Sussex County Council
Existing kerb height provides sufficient physical and audible warning; raising it is not considered necessary and would cause visual intrusion.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
North West Wales
Concerns raised1
Lack of roadside barrier or fence preventing vehicles entering the ditch
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Gwynedd Council
the Trustees of the Ymddiriedolaeth Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Gwynedd Council
Complete a site-specific assessment of whether a road restraint system should be provided at the collision site.
Gwynedd Council
Review future options for installing a road restraint system as maintenance or wider highway improvements affect the relevant considerations.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Gwynedd Council
Implemented signage and passive roadside measures may be sufficient to negate the need for a road restraint system.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Gwynedd Council
Road restraint installation is limited by substantial funding, resource, physical, engineering, legal, environmental, land ownership and maintenance constraints.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
the Trustees of the Ymddiriedolaeth Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation
Stock fencing is not intended or designed as highway safety infrastructure and would not withstand a vehicle collision at speed.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
the Trustees of the Ymddiriedolaeth Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation
Safety works on or adjacent to the public highway are the responsibility of the relevant authority, not the adjoining landowner.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of a final vehicle-exclusion solution at the waterway
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Cambridgeshire County Council
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Cambridgeshire County Council
Conduct a traffic flow survey to inform proposed closure or restricted access for Puddock Road.
Cambridgeshire County Council
Undertake informal engagement and submit a Traffic Regulation Order application for closure or restricted access to Puddock Road, subject to statutory consultation.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Cambridgeshire County Council
A vehicle restraint system was not suitable because unstable ground conditions might cause the barrier to collapse after impact.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Cambridgeshire County Council
A rafting barrier was not pursued because its installation and maintenance costs and complexity were prohibitively high, without guaranteed long-term structural rigidity.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
County of Dorset
Concerns raised1
Lack of a barrier between the highway and the storm drain
Linked response
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Install permanent timber post-and-rail fencing beside the slip road and storm drain.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Additional fencing is not appropriate because recurrence risk is low and the fencing could cause more injuries than it prevents.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Swansea and Neath Port Talbot
Concerns raised1
Failure of the barrier to safely redirect heavy vehicles along its length
Linked response
Welsh Government
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Welsh Government
Apply national barrier-containment standards consistently across the Strategic Road Network.
Welsh Government
Continue collaborating with National Highways on reviews of modern default barrier-containment levels, including data contribution and discussion.
Welsh Government
Continue monitoring incidents and review containment policy and practice when future data indicate emerging risks.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Welsh Government
No site-specific factors justified higher containment, so the concern that N2 was inadequate is disputed.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Welsh Government
Retaining N2 containment was considered appropriate because it complied with national standards and policy.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Welsh Government
A higher default containment level was not pursued because it would be disproportionately costly and require extensive network-wide reconstruction.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Welsh Government
Changes to default containment policy are led nationally by National Highways, which is researching future policy.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Exeter and Greater Devon
Concerns raised1
Insufficient nearside barrier length beside a carriageway drop-off
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
National Highways
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
National Highways
Undertake a Road Restraint Risk Assessment Process assessment near the existing vehicle restraint to determine barrier requirements against current standards.
Nottinghamshire
Concerns raised1
Gap in the vehicle restraint barrier permitting unimpeded vehicle passage from the carriageway
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
National Highways
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
National Highways
Progress the drainage scheme, including ditch clearance, pipe repairs or replacement, cleaning, and additional drainage installation.
National Highways
Continue discussions with the landowner and agent to secure removal of the field access and closure of the barrier gap.
National Highways
Assess options for removing the field access and determine associated costs and a reasonable land-access value for an offer to the landowner.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
National Highways
Vehicle restraint barrier alterations cannot be implemented until agreement is reached with the landowner to close the field access.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Absence of a protective barrier on the central reservation
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Stockport Borough Council
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Stockport Borough Council
Submit a proposed Crookilley Way central barrier scheme for consideration among possible improvements to the key route network.
Stockport Borough Council
Make a funding bid for installing a central barrier on Crookilley Way during 2016/2017.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Stockport Borough Council
TfGM must support any central-barrier installation because Crookilley Way forms part of the key route network.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Stockport Borough Council
Installation of a central barrier cannot proceed without external funding because road-safety improvement funds are limited and already committed.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Central Lincolnshire
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide suitable roadside protection at the foot of the bank
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Lincolnshire County Council
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Lincolnshire County Council
Safety barriers cannot be erected without significant structural works because the embankment lacks sufficient strength.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Lincolnshire County Council
Providing safety barriers would be excessively costly and divert limited resources from repairing other county road defects.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.