First reported 6 Aug 2014•Latest report 20 Feb 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the dedicated safety process for setting up and controlling street works, including staff competence and training, distance calculation, reference-point and road-marking guidance, risk assessment, traffic-management layout and related implementation controls where these directly affect the safety of road users or workers.
Not included
Excludes general highway maintenance, road-condition, road-junction or collision hazards where no street-works setup or control deficiency is identified.
Excludes generic staff training, documentation or risk-assessment deficiencies unless they are specifically tied to safely setting up or controlling street works.
Excludes failures in highway hazard reporting, inspection or remedial-work prioritisation where the street-works setup and control process is not the unsafe condition.
Excludes ordinary road-user behaviour or operational driving failures unrelated to the safety arrangements for street works.
Reports
2
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
6
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
7
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.
Department for Transport2
Affinity Water Limited1
Essex County Council1
Hatton Traffic Management Limited1
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council1
Surrey Police1
Sutton And East Surrey Water PLC1
Ministerial department2
English county council1
English district council1
Police force1
Private limited company1
Public limited company1
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.
Essex
Concerns raised3
Inadequate Code of Practice guidance for calculating street works distances where standard reference points or markings are unavailable or variable
Difficulties in calculating distances for roadworks set up in darkness
Failure to place road works warning signs without obscuring visibility of joining traffic
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.7
Action
Work collaboratively with the Department for Transport and councils on proposed Code revisions or new rules for permit applications and safe roadworks.
Stated by Affinity Water LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Update the Safety Code through consultation, incorporating the report’s findings and publishing a revised version.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Complete a full review of emergency works procedures.
Stated by Hatton Traffic Management LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Roll out new detailed design layouts and sign-placement guidance for all traffic-light schemes and road speeds.
Stated by Hatton Traffic Management LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Devise and roll out a toolbox talk addressing sight-line issues and the procedure changes across the business.
Stated by Hatton Traffic Management LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Add a process-flow question requiring operatives to record whether signage sight lines have been checked and assessed as appropriate.
Stated by Hatton Traffic Management LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Strengthen planning and execution of emergency roadworks and implement stricter contractor-oversight protocols, supported by regular audits and assessments.
Stated by Affinity Water LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
Position
Responding to the second concern falls outside Affinity’s remit because the Department for Transport publishes and controls the Safety at Street Works Code.
Stated by Affinity Water LimitedOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Those carrying out works are responsible for accurately measuring Safety Code distances, including during darkness.
Stated by Department for TransportRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The Department for Transport is responsible for reviewing and improving the Code’s guidance on distance calculations for curved carriageways.
Stated by Essex County CouncilRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Statutory undertakers and their contractors are responsible for safely setting up emergency works and ensuring Code compliance.
Stated by Essex County CouncilRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The local highway authority that granted the permit is responsible for deciding enforcement action concerning incorrectly placed signs.
Stated by Department for TransportRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Surrey
Concerns raised3
Lack of operative guidance or training on placing traffic lights near blind bends
Lack of a clear route for locating the person responsible for placing road works
Inadequate staff training in the safe setting up of road works
This report raised 4 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.
Pin
Get email alerts
Request correction
Includes failures in the dedicated safety process for setting up and controlling street works, including staff competence and training, distance calculation, reference-point and road-marking guidance, risk assessment, traffic-management layout and related implementation controls where these directly affect the safety of road users or workers.
