Warren Myers

Dear Mr Tweddle Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 _ Regulation 28 Mr Warren Michael Myers, Deceased Thank you for your letter and Regulation 28 report dated 9 February 2017 which Terry Collins, Chief Executive, has asked me to respond to_ This was tragic accident and the Council wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Myers In accordance with Regulation 28 we have considered whether any improvements can be made to our procedures to prevent future accidents_ acknowledge that this response was due by 5 April and apologise for the late response which was due to an oversight Site Investigation Following Fatal Accident Report The Council has an Accident Investigation and Prevention team and one of their roles is to investigate every fatal accident in conjunction with Durham Constabulary's Traffic Management Unit: Please find attached a copy of the report at Appendix 1. These reports are undertaken to help identify any defects or improvements to the highway infrastructure. The report made the following recommendations although it noted that were not considered to be contributory factors to the accident: No. Recommendation Action Provide suitable Bend ahead' warning Both Bend Ahead warning signs have signs in-line with the 85th percentile been increased in size from 6Omm high speeds on approach to the bend in both to 750mm high: directions of travel 2 The existing chevron plate for wlbound The chevron sign has been re-erected motorists has slipped down the post and and is clearly visible: is now not clearly visible Regeneration and Local Services Durham County Council, Traffic Assets, County Hall, Durham: DHI SUQ e-mail: ns traffic@durham gov.uk wwdurham gov uk they

3 The appropriately sized chevrons The size of the yellow boarder on the (including appropriate yellow backing) chevron signs confirms to TSRGD 1994. should be provided on the bend to The chevron sign is still functional and benefit both directions of travel. Clear therefore no requirement to make visibility of the signs should be provided. changes until the chevron needs to be replaced: Due to the amount of kerb strikes, this An additional chevron sign (TSRGD bend may benefit from additional | Diagram
515) has been erected for engineering measures to warn of the eastbound traffic, offset to the right of bend and reduce approach speeds in the dropped kerbsltrack. both directions of travel, Hazard Marker Posts (10 no.) have been installed around the outer radius of the bend at 5 metre spacing_ The photographs detailed below that were taken on 28 February 2017 shows the current road signs layout for eastbound traffic following the implementation of the above recommendationslactions .

Advisory Maximum Speed Sign We have considered your recommendation of an 'advisory maximum speed sign' for the eastbound direction of travel: The Council is required to follow the Department for Transport's traffic sign regulations which include the following maximum speed sign (diag: 513.2): Max speed 30 The regulations for this sign state: "Maximum Speed Advised" is prescribed for use only in combination with the "Loose chippings" sign (Diag: 7009) or the bend warning signs (Diag: 512, 512.1, 512.2 or 513) The sign should be used sparingly, as in general it should be for drivers to judge what speed to adopt It is not easy to determine a standard safe speed to negotiate a bend; factors which influence this include radius of curvature, camberlsuper elevation, road surface condition and type of vehicle. The sign may be used where the road layout is such that a driver might be misled, e.g. at an exit from high-speed road where significant slowing is required before negotiating a sharp bend. It may also be used on high-speed roads where the horizontal design radius cannot be achieved, but a mandatory speed limit is not imposed: It must not be used with mandatory speed limit signs, nor in place of repeater signs: The above criteria for "Maximum Speed Advised" sign are not met at this location. However; the traffic sign regulations do include the following "Reduce Speed Now" sign as follows (diag: 511):

REDUCE SPEED NOW The regulations for this sign state: "An alternative to diagram 513.2 where drivers tend to enter a bend at excessive speed, is to plate the bend warning sign with diagram 511 "Reduce Speed Now" signs: The above criteria is met for this sign and therefore we will install a "Reduce Speed Now" sign plate below the existing eastbound combined 'bend to the rightlhorse warning' sign arrangement by the end of May 2017 . hope the above actions reassure you that We have addressed all the recommendations made.