PAUL ANDREW FREAR · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 4/10/23 I commenced an investigation into the death of PAUL ANDREW FREAR aged 45 years who died on 22/9/23. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 23/1/24. The conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision.

The medical cause for the death of Mr Frear was

1a) Multiple Injuries
1b) Road Traffic Collision

On 22/9/23 Mr Frear passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham from injuries sustained in a road traffic collision on 21/9/23. The collision occurred on the A457 Tollhouse Way, Smethwick at the junction with the B4135 Rolfe Street. CCTV revealed that Mr Frear was a pedestrian waiting at a crossing area, when he entered the carriageway whilst the pedestrian lights were showing red and collided with a vehicle travelling in lane 2.

1. During the inquest I received evidence from the West Midlands Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit. Tollhouse Way is classified as the A457 and runs parallel to the B4169 High Street, Smethwick. Tollhouse Way is a dual carriageway and runs in a general north to south direction. The majority of the carriageway consists of two lanes in both directions and it is governed by a 40mph speed limit. The collision took place in the northbound carriageway at a set of traffic lights at the junction with the B4135 Rolfe Street where Mr Frear was waiting to cross the road as a pedestrian.
2. At the point of the collision the northbound carriageway separates in to three distinctive marked lanes. Lanes 1 and 2 are for traffic intending to continue straight on and lane 3 is for traffic intending to turn right in to Rolfe Street. On the day of and immediately preceding the collision, traffic in lane 3, immediately next to Mr Frear was stationary and held by a red filter traffic light situated directly above Mr Frear. However, traffic travelling in lanes 1 and 2 were able to continue straight ahead and were directed by a green traffic light.
3. Mr Frear entered the carriageway when the pedestrian control panel next to him was showing red indicating ‘do not cross’ and collided with a vehicle in lane 2 travelling correctly in accordance with a green light.
4. It is accepted that Mr Frear may have been distracted by using his mobile phone and/or influenced by pedestrians crossing from the opposite direction.
5. My concern is that the design of this junction means that it is not obvious to a pedestrian that the only place to look for indications as to whether it is safe to cross the road is to their left. There are no such indicators on the opposite side of the carriageway which is ordinarily where a pedestrian would be looking. The signals were situated immediately to the left of where Mr Frear was stood/where any pedestrian would be standing.
6. Within the police report the collision investigator (who visited the scene) states as follows; I do however find the layout very confusing with the right turn filter lane (lane 3) not being separated from the main carriageway a pedestrian is faced with stationary traffic. If a pedestrian chose to look up to their right they would be presented with a red traffic light and the only indication that it is still not safe to cross is the pedestrian controls to their immediate left. The green light for lanes 1 and 2 is not visible to pedestrians and there is no pedestrian light indication on the opposite side.’ I share this concern.
7. Coroner understands from the police that there were two previous incidents at this location which occurred prior to the changes resulting in the current road layout. Coroner also understands Sandwell Highways have completed safety reviews and processes throughout the design, implementation and post installation of the junction design.
8. Whilst the current road layout may be legal, the death of Mr Frear highlights the safety issue for pedestrians present at this junction crossing from BOTH sides and highlights that the signage for pedestrians in not clear enough and there is a risk of further deaths now and in the future.