David Lewis · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 30 July 2020 I opened an inquest into the death of David Lewis. The inquest concluded on 14 January 2021 with a hearing at Oxford Coroners Court. Mr Lewis was 60 years old when he died at the scene of a road traffic accident at Vendee Drive, Bicester.

The conclusion of the inquest was ‘Road Traffic Collision’ with the following factual findings:

At approximately 22.05 on 16 July 2020 David Lewis was driving north from junction 9 of the M40 motorway towards Bicester on the A41 when he overshot the roundabout at Vendee Drive at speed causing his vehicle to become air borne and land upside down. He sustained a head injury and died at the scene.

I heard evidence from three witnesses at inquest along with other written statements and reports. One of the witnesses who gave oral evidence was ████████, Group Manager, Area Operations, Highways, at Oxfordshire County Council. The other two were ████████ of Hampshire and Thames Valley Joint Roads Policing and █, ████████, Police Collision Investigator. I attach copies of their statements and reports for your information.

Mr Lewis was driving his vehicle on 16 July 2020 when he overshot the roundabout at Vendee Drive, Bicester at speed. It appears that he failed to detect the presence of the roundabout on his approach. It is noteworthy that he was intoxicated with alcohol and was 1½ times the legal limit for driving. However, it will be noted from pages 6 & 7 of Mr Croxton’s report that there is a significant history of very similar accidents with cars overshooting this roundabout, this includes a double fatality on 12 June 2019.

(1) It will be seen from paragraph 18 of ████████ statement that a few days after this tragic accident there were amendments in the form of a reduction in the speed limit on approach to the roundabout. I understand these amendments were likely to be the result of a review which took place after a double fatality in June 2019. I am concerned that despite improved signage and reduced speed limits there is still the danger of drivers not noticing the roundabout in sufficient time. Importantly, it is noticed that the roundabout is approached from around a bend or deflection.

It appears that more may be required in terms of engineering. One possibility that was mentioned by ████████ was that consideration could be given to rumble strips/bars on the road surface which could give drivers an auditory warning in addition to visual warning.

It is not for me to make a recommendation, but I do have a duty to request a review and response. I will be interested to learn if the addition of rumble strips/bars or any other engineering improvements might be considered with a view to reducing the prospect of any similar incident in the future.