Recurring concern

Inadequate control and visibility of hazardous kerb edges

First to latest report 3 Mar 2016 — 30 Apr 2025

Reports that mention this concern
4
Times this concern has been raised
4
Stated actions linked to this concern
2

What this concern includes

Includes physical defects, unclear transitions and inadequate visibility or warning measures at kerb edges where the condition can affect road users, including cyclists, pedestrians or approaching motorists.

What is not included
  • Excludes general road-design, road-surface, junction, signage or visibility deficiencies where a hazardous kerb edge is not the material unsafe condition.
  • Excludes ordinary kerb maintenance or accessibility issues without a supported road-user safety consequence.
  • Excludes generic pedestrian, cyclist or vehicle-control concerns that do not identify a deficient or hazardous kerb edge.
  • Excludes hazards at platform, building or other non-road edges unless the assertion concerns the same road-user kerb-edge safety condition.

Reports and published responses 4 reports

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

  1. West Sussex, Brighton and Hove

    AI-generated summary

    Doreen TURNER · 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

    Doreen Turner died on 1 November 2024 after her car entered a canal at South Bank, Chichester, and she drowned. The canal was adjacent to a road with low kerbing, no devices to prevent vehicles entering the water, and evidence that another driver had entered the canal at the same location within the previous five years.

    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 prevent vehicles from entering the canal at the end of the road

    Wider context from the report

    “The inquest was told that South Bank is a residential cul de sac. At the end of the road, there is a footpath which is perpendicular to the road which also runs alongside the canal. The end of the road has kerbing, a 5ft foot grass section and then the canal. The inquest heard that the kerbing is less than standard height and there are no devices present to prevent a vehicle which passes over the kerbstones from entering the canal. The evidence was that Mrs Turner was the second driver to have entered the canal in a vehicle in the last 5 years at that location. ”

    Source location

    Doreen TURNER · 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

    Install reflective bollards along the canal bank to provide a clearer visual indication of the road end.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “• Installing bollards with reflectors on the canal bank within the gap between an existing traffic sign post and the northern end of the turning head.”

    Source location

    Response from West Sussex County Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 19 May 2025

    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

    Existing kerb height provides sufficient physical and audible warning; raising it is not considered necessary and would cause visual intrusion.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “As noted, South Bank is a residential cul de sac. Traffic speeds approaching the end of the road are very low as drivers approach with caution influenced by the narrow confines of the road due to on-street parking. It is appreciated that the kerb height in the turning head at the end of South Bank is lower than many kerbs at the edge of a public highway, although it does still provide sufficient physical separation between the road edge and the grass bank of the canal to give a physical and audible warning to a driver. Raising the height of the kerbs would not necessarily offer any additional prevention of a vehicle overrunning onto the bank, unless they were of such a height as to fully stop a vehicle – this type of kerbing would be a significant visual intrusion and disruption to the canal bank.”

    Source location

    Response from West Sussex County Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 19 May 2025

    Open published response

  2. West Yorkshire (Western)

    AI-generated summary

    Danielle Lea Broadhead · 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

    Danielle Lea Broadhead lost control of her vehicle on Barnsley Road, Flockton, after clipping a kerb where a grass verge becomes a pedestrian pavement on a bend, and collided with a tree. She sustained fatal head injuries; the substantive concerns were whether the road layout met regulations and standards and whether measures were needed to highlight the kerb to oncoming motorists.

    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

    Inadequate measures highlighting the commencement of the kerb to oncoming motorists

    Wider context from the report

    “• To review and consider the existing road layout to ensure that it meets the correct regulations and standards. • To consider the appropriateness of measures which highlight the commencement of the kerb to oncoming motorists. ”

    Source location

    Danielle Lea Broadhead · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    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

    Existing edge and centre-line markings comply with applicable requirements and direct drivers away from the kerb transition.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The location of the kerb, where there is a change from grassed verge to made footway, is approximately 500m to the West of the junction of Haigh Lane opposite a private drive entrance. At the point of the change there is an existing edge of carriageway line leading drivers away from where the kerb starts. This line was last re-instated in 2016 as part of the road surface dressing works. The Google image above was captured in Sept 2020. The centre lane is made up of a double white line system (also reinstated in 2016) both have been installed in accordance with “Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016” and associated “TSM Chapter 5 – Road Markings” The change from verge to footway is made by transition kerbs, into full height kerb, with the verge and made tarmac footway being same width.”

    Source location

    2021-0104-Response-from-Kirklees-Council-Redacted
    Page 2 · response
    Published 16 April 2021

    Open published response

  3. Cheshire

    AI-generated summary

    David Holman · 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

    David Holman died instantly on 13 July 2016 after riding his pedal cycle from the pavement into the path of an oncoming HGV on the A556 at Plumley. Concerns were raised about the absence of a cycle lane, an obstructing road-sign support, and a dip in the kerb, which may have contributed to him leaving the footpath and could increase the risk of a similar occurrence.

    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

    Dip in the kerb edge

    Wider context from the report

    “It appears that there is no cycle lane there and the road gets very busy, so the footpath was being ridden along. There is a road sign situated just after the area at which the descent into the road is thought to have taken place. One support of this goes into the footpath causing an obstruction. There is also a dip in the kerb edge there. No one seemed to know why it was situated there as there is no field entrance or other opening opposite it. It was thought possible that either one or the other or both of these things could have had some effect in the causation of him leaving the footpath. We should appreciate your consideration of these facts to see if any changes need to be made to less the chance of a similar occurrence happening. ”

    Source location

    David Holman · 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

    Re-kerb the affected length to provide a consistently higher kerb edge.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Another area of concern was the dip in the kerb edge/height; Works are programmed to re-kerb this length, this will provide a higher consistent kerb height at this location.”

    Source location

    2017-0018-Response-by-Cheshire-East-Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 19 February 2017

    Open published response

  4. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    Aleeza Ahmed · 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

    Aleeza Ahmed was being carried unrestrained in a car driven by her father when the vehicle left the carriageway, overturned and threw her from the vehicle, causing severe head injuries. Concerns included the possible contribution of chamfered kerbs and the absence of a protective barrier on the central reservation to the vehicle’s overturning and trajectory.

    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

    Use of chamfered kerb stones on the carriageway

    Wider context from the report

    “1. This incident occurred at Crookilley Way, Stockport on the 26th July 2015. The vehicle had exited the M60 (clockwise section) at junction 25. As it left the roundabout on to Crookilley Way, the driver lost control and the vehicle mounted the offside kerb, crossed the central reservation and overturned throwing the child from the car as this happened. The kerb stones to the offside of the carriageway are of a chamfered design and it would appear that this may have contributed to the vehicle overturning. Questions were raised as to whether these kerbs should be replaced with a more traditional 90 degree type. ”

    Source location

    Aleeza Ahmed · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    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 existing splayed kerb is appropriate for a dual carriageway because it allows vehicles to leave the carriageway during emergencies.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “A splayed kerb is used on Crookilley Way, which is the type of kerb used on dual carriageways and motorways and where there are no adjacent footpaths. Whilst one of the purposes of a kerb is to provide a physical check to prevent vehicles leading the carriageway, the design of the splayed kerb used on such a carriageway has an angled face which presents an inclination. This is designed to allow a vehicle to mount the verge in an emergency and keep the carriageway clear, which is of critical importance on a dual carriageway or motorway.”

    Source location

    2016-0089-Response-by-Stockport-Borough-Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 3 March 2016

    Open published response

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

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Data last updated 7 September 2026