Measuring to Manage

This is the Road Safety Foundation’s annual report which measures and maps the risk of death and serious injury on motorways and ‘A’ roads outside cities.

The report shows road travel is getting measurably safer, particularly because of improving vehicle safety. On the back of the report, the Road Safety Foundation is calling for Government investment to be “targeted so the safety of the network is raised in a measurable way using world class” techniques.

The report shows that single carriageway roads are now seven times more risky than motorways. It also shows that the main crash type causing death is running off the road, and the main crash type causing serious injury are “brutal” junction impacts.

The report highlights Britain’s most improved road stretches where road managers have often paid attention to road layout and detail to prevent significant death and serious trauma. It also shows that Britain’s safest regions to live are where single carriageways are safer and the majority of travel is on safer motorway. It shows the most improved region is the east of England and the least safe is the East Midlands.

The report highlights typical improvements which have led to big reductions in serious crashes which include: removal of roadside hazards (such as trees, rigid poles or lighting columns); the introduction of interactive warning signs; anti-skid surfacing; and road studs. Measures successfully deployed to reduce crashes at junctions include improved layout, signing, lining, resurfacing with high friction treatments, and tailored local speed limits.

It also celebrates the work of authorities who have made significant improvements to their roads. It highlights a “remarkable” 70% drop in serious crashes – 250 fatal and serious injury crashes saved – on the country’s 10 most improved road sections, achieved through a variety of infrastructure improvements.