Joseph Burrell · Prevention of Future Deaths report

At the inquest touching the death of Joseph Burrell heard before H.M. Deputy Coroner John Taylor at North London Coroners Court sitting at 29a Wood Street, Barnet EN5 4BE on 22 July 2013, the Deputy Coroner found that (a) the evidence at the inquest gave rise to a concern that circumstances creating a risk of other deaths would occur, or would continue to exist, in the future, and (b) in the Deputy Coroner’s opinion, action should be taken to prevent the occurrence or continuation of such circumstances, or to eliminate or reduce the risk of death created by such circumstances.

This report is sent to you as a person who the Deputy Coroner believes may have power to take such action.

At 7:15 pm on Saturday 28 July 2012, Mr. Burrell attempted (as a pedestrian) to cross the two-lane southern carriageway of The Broadway, in Stanmore, at its junction with Church Road and Stanmore Hill. He was seen on the central reservation, next to the traffic lights, waiting to cross to the south side. At the moment when he began to cross, the traffic in the right-hand lane of The Broadway (from where it would turn into Stanmore Hill) was held on a red light, and the traffic in the left-hand lane (from where it would bear left into Church Road) was permitted to proceed through the lights, by virtue of a green filter light. As Mr. Burrell attempted to make his way across the left-hand lane, he was struck by a car proceeding through the green filter light. He died from the multiple injuries which he sustained in that collision.

The evidence before the Deputy Coroner was:

1. a pedestrian on the central reservation has no clear view of the green filter light (particularly if there is a high-sided vehicle held stationary in the right-hand lane)
2. there is no "second set" of lights beyond the lights (as there is at many junctions) - which would be easier for a pedestrian to see
3. there is no "red man/green man" pedestrian light, or warning sound (which would indicate when it was safe to cross)
4. there are no control buttons for pedestrians to use (in order to bring the lights in both lanes to red)
5. for each and all of the above reasons, and when deciding his moment to cross, a pedestrian on the reservation cannot easily be certain whether the lights for both lanes are on red (and hence whether it is safe to cross)
6. the speed limit at the lights was (and is) 30mph
7. a pedestrian waiting to cross may thus expose himself to risk of injury, or death, if he mistakenly believes that both lights are on red, and so chooses to cross at the time when the light for the left-hand lane is not on red, but instead on the green filter; and
8. there were references in the documentary evidence to “near misses” on earlier occasions

1. a pedestrian on the central reservation has no clear view of the green filter light (particularly if there is a high-sided vehicle held stationary in the right-hand lane)
2. there is no "second set" of lights beyond the lights (as there is at many junctions) - which would be easier for a pedestrian to see
3. there is no "red man/green man" pedestrian light, or warning sound (which would indicate when it was safe to cross)
4. there are no control buttons for pedestrians to use (in order to bring the lights in both lanes to red)
5. for each and all of the above reasons, and when deciding his moment to cross, a pedestrian on the reservation cannot easily be certain whether the lights for both lanes are on red (and hence whether it is safe to cross)
6. the speed limit at the lights was (and is) 30mph
7. a pedestrian waiting to cross may thus expose himself to risk of injury, or death, if he mistakenly believes that both lights are on red, and so chooses to cross at the time when the light for the left-hand lane is not on red, but instead on the green filter; and
8. there were references in the documentary evidence to “near misses” on earlier occasions

The Deputy Coroner accordingly invites you to consider these circumstances, and whether to take action in relation to them.