Suzanne Regan · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 16 Jul 2021•Swansea and Neath Port Talbot

Published report and response evidence

This report’s concerns and statements found in recipients’ published responses. Statements are included even where no link to an individual concern is recorded. A link shows an evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
2

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 2 recipients

Stated actions
6

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Failure to replace old style barriers

Stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.6

  1. Welsh Government

    Replace the non-compliant terminal at Junction 45 of the M4 westbound by April 2023.

  2. Welsh Government

    Raise non-compliant-terminal monitoring and incident-assessment needs nationally with other UK highways authorities.

  3. Welsh Government

    Replace the non-compliant terminal at Junction 44 of the M4 westbound by April 2023.

  4. Welsh Government

    Monitor incidents involving non-compliant terminals closely.

  5. Welsh Government

    Continue proactively replacing non-compliant terminals in line with CD 377.

  6. Welsh Government

    Review terminals at all motorway exit slip roads in Wales and develop a prioritised replacement programme.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  1. Welsh Government

    Historical non-compliant terminals need not be upgraded immediately; CD377 requires replacement only when opportunities arise and upgrades are cost-effective.

    Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to replace old style barriers

Wider context from the report

“(1) The failure to replace these old style barriers runs the risk of further deaths and serious injuries occurring. My understanding is that modern replacements are available. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

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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

Replace the non-compliant terminal at Junction 45 of the M4 westbound by April 2023.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The terminal at this location was not damaged as a result of the incident, nor were any concerns about the terminal brought to the attention of the Welsh Government at the time of the incident. Therefore, and in line with CD 377 it was not considered for upgrade. As a consequence of this being brought to its attention in your report, the Welsh Government has also committed to replacing this terminal by April 2023.”

Source location

2021-0247-Response-from-Welsh-Government_Published
Page 3 · response
Published 22 July 2021

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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

Raise non-compliant-terminal monitoring and incident-assessment needs nationally with other UK highways authorities.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Welsh Government have been actively discussing this matter on a national level with National Highways (NH) formerly Highways England. NH has confirmed that their practice, in line with CD 377 is that historical ramped end terminals are only replaced when the opportunity arises. In a three year period (2014 -2016) NH had recorded 6 fatal incidents involving historical ramped end terminals. One of the 6 terminals was upgraded.”

Source location

2021-0247-Response-from-Welsh-Government_Published
Page 2 · response
Published 22 July 2021

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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

Replace the non-compliant terminal at Junction 44 of the M4 westbound by April 2023.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The terminal was not upgraded immediately after the incident in January 2021 as there was no damage incurred and in line with national standards, this was not warranted. Due to the age of the adjoining safety fence systems at this location, upgraded terminals will have to be designed specifically to ensure a compliant transition between systems. A level difference between the M4 motorway and the exit slip road also presents design challenges. However, further to your report and as detailed below, the Welsh Government has committed to undertaking this work by April 2023.”

Source location

2021-0247-Response-from-Welsh-Government_Published
Page 2 · response
Published 22 July 2021

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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

Monitor incidents involving non-compliant terminals closely.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Official STATS19 road safety data have been reviewed to determine if there is an ongoing problem with incidents involving non-compliant terminals in Wales. This data shows 3 fatal incidents in a three year period (2018 to 2020). One of the 3 terminals has been upgraded.”

Source location

2021-0247-Response-from-Welsh-Government_Published
Page 2 · response
Published 22 July 2021

Open published response

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

Continue proactively replacing non-compliant terminals in line with CD 377.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Consequently, there are significant numbers still on the network, including at this location, they are however, being continually upgraded in line with the DMRB and CD 377.”

Source location

2021-0247-Response-from-Welsh-Government_Published
Page 2 · response
Published 22 July 2021

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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

Review terminals at all motorway exit slip roads in Wales and develop a prioritised replacement programme.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• A review of terminals at all motorway exit slip roads in Wales. This review has already been commissioned and is to be completed by April 2022. A prioritised replacement programme will be developed and timescales for replacement will be based on that programme, taking into account of the availability of funding.”

Source location

2021-0247-Response-from-Welsh-Government_Published
Page 3 · response
Published 22 July 2021

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

Historical non-compliant terminals need not be upgraded immediately; CD377 requires replacement only when opportunities arise and upgrades are cost-effective.

Verbatim wording from the response

“There is no specific requirement within CD 377 stipulating that historical systems should be upgraded. However, section 1.4 of CD 377 provides that ‘where a road restraint system (RRS) can be made compliant with current requirements without significant undue additional expense and or delay, the opportunity shall be taken.’”

Source location

2021-0247-Response-from-Welsh-Government_Published
Page 1 · response
Published 22 July 2021

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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026