Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

John Liddle

Ref: 2025-0012 Date: 9 Jan 2025 Coroner: Georgina Nolan Area: Newcastle and North Tyneside 1 response identified · 1 indexed addressee View PDF

AI-generated concerns summaryThe coroner identified that the 40 mph speed limit on a section of the A694 is unsafe, given its residential location, bends, junctions, and history of collisions involving pedal cycles, pedestrians, and motor vehicles.

Date 9 Jan 2025

56-day deadline 7 Mar 2025 stated in the report

Responses identified 1 of 1

Road (Highways Safety) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

The coroner identified that the 40 mph speed limit on a section of the A694 is unsafe, given its residential location, bends, junctions, and history of collisions involving pedal cycles, pedestrians, and motor vehicles.

View full coroner's concerns

(1) At the time of the collision the area of the A694 upon which Mr Liddle was cycling was subject to a 40 miles per hour speed limit; (2) The speed limit on this area of road has now (temporarily) been reduced to 30 miles per hour; (3) The road is within a residential area; (4) The road encompasses bends and junctions; (5) There have been a number of other collisions along the stretch of road involving pedal cycles, pedestrians and motor vehicles; and (6) A 40 miles per hour speed limit is unsafe for this stretch of road.

Responses

1 respondent

Gateshead Council

Local Authority

Letter dated 11 Mar 2025 PDF

AI-classified response stance Action Taken

AI-generated response summary

• Gateshead Council commenced an experimental traffic regulation order on 7 November 2024 to reduce the speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph on the specified road. • Traffic speeds will be monitored and any further road traffic collisions investigated during the 18-month order period. • The Council will gather public comments for six months and review them to decide on the next steps.

View full response

Dear Ms Nolan, Prevention of Future Deaths Report – John Liddle I write with reference to the above and your letter of the 28 January 2025, hopefully clarifying some of the points contained and to provide a formal response. Firstly, on behalf of the Council, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of John Liddle. In response to the concerns raised, a decision was made to investigate the effect of a reduction to the speed limit from 40 to 30 mph using an experimental traffic regulation order, pursuant to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This order stretches approximately 1.5km in length and incorporates the area where the fatal road traffic collision occurred. This Order commenced 7th November 2024 and will be in effect for a period of up to 18 months, during which time traffic speeds will be monitored and any further road traffic collisions will be investigated. The first six months of that period will be used for the public to comment on whether the scheme is working, or not. The Council will then review all the comments and decide how to proceed. If you have any queries about the contents of this letter, please contact me on telephone number or via email

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 25th May 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of John Michael Liddle, aged 44. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 10th January 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision. The medical cause of Mr Liddle’s death was 1a) Blunt head injury.

Circumstances of the death

On the night of 3rd May 2023 John Michael Liddle was riding his pedal cycle southwards along the A694 Lockhaugh Road, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead. His cycle lights were illuminated and he was wearing a yellow cycling jacket. As he moved out towards the centre of the road to take the turn into Sherburn Park Drive he was hit by a minibus travelling behind him who was overtaking. Mr Liddle suffered unsurvivable head injuries and died at the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne on 21st May 2023.

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Report details

Reference: 2025-0012
Date of report: 9 January 2025
Coroner: Georgina Nolan
Coroner area: Newcastle and North Tyneside

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 7 Mar 2025 (stated in the report).

Sent to

Gateshead Council

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.