Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Jan Bodnar

Ref: 2016-0166 Date: 29 Apr 2016 Coroner: Graham Danbury Area: Hertfordshire Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

Dangerous plant growth on a central reservation severely restricted driver visibility at a junction, requiring regular maintenance and review of similar junctions.

Date 29 Apr 2016

56-day deadline 24 Jun 2016

Responses identified 1 of 1

Road (Highways Safety) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

Dangerous plant growth on a central reservation severely restricted driver visibility at a junction, requiring regular maintenance and review of similar junctions.

View full coroner's concerns

_ (1) That state of the central reservation at this junction was dangerous in that the plant growth severely restricted the view for a driver of traffic approaching from the left.

(2) The evidence showed that the growth had been cut back a week or so after this incident; but the risk of danger to motorists will only be avoided if the growth at this junction is regularly cut back (3) The evidence showed that similar risks may well be present at other similar junctions on this road.

Responses

1 respondent

Hertfordshire Council Local Authority / Fire Service

21 Jun 2016 PDF

Action Taken

The Council cleared vegetation at a specific junction in July 2015. They also carried out an assessment of similar junctions, identifying 6 requiring vegetation clearance, which is planned for July 2016. The Council also revised the remit for highway safety inspectors and revised the maintenance regime for vegetation for the identified length of road. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Mr Danbury Re: Jan BODNAR, deceased Thank you for your letter dated 29 April 2016 and the attached Regulation 28 Report note from the report that you have a number of concerns that you have raised. The County Council takes the safety of users extremely seriously and in light of these concerns we have undertaken the following; Cleared the vegetation (tree, shrubs and other plant growth) at the A505 End Farm junction (inside the safety barrier within the central reserve) on 25 and 27 July 2015. Carried out an assessment of similar junctions on this section of road between Baldock and Royston. This has revealed that of the 11 junctions, 6 require further vegetation clearance over and above what is covered by our cyclical grass cutting maintenance programme. This work is planned to be undertaken in July 2016, subject to weather and other factors outside of our control. Revised the remit for our highway safety inspectors for this length of road to ensure that vegetation of this nature is identified, enabling corrective action to be programmed_ Revised the maintenance regime for vegetation for this length of road, so that the cutting of trees, shrubs and other plant growth will be carried out in CO- ordination with grass cutting on an annual basis wwW hertfordshire gov.uk My Your road Slip

{'jX :` Further to the items above, we are reviewing forward visibility requirements at similar junctions on other roads in Hertfordshire. We are using a risklasset intelligence based approach starting with high speed roads. This assessment will be completed by the end of August 2016.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 13/07/2015 commenced an investigation into the death of Jan Bodnar, 36 The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 28 April 2016. conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision. On 12th July 2015 Jan Bodnar was riding his motorcycle at high speed on the A505 near Ashwell: The motorcycle collided with a car crossing the carriageway causing fatal injuries to Mr Bodnar. The medical cause of death was Ia Multiple Fractures and Internal Organ Injuries Trauma Ib: Trauma

Circumstances of the death

The deceased was the rider of a motorcycle travelling at high speed along the dual carriageway A505 from Baldock towards Royston_ At the junction with End Farm an Audi motor vehicle which had been travelling in the opposite direction on the A505 turned into an opening in the central reservation in order to cross the other carriageway into the farm entrance. The weather was fine and clear: The motor cycle struck the rear of the Audi: The evidence of the Forensic Collision Investigator was that prior to the collision the motorcycle had been travelling at approximately 92 mph in the offside lane of the A505 His evidence also showed that at the time of the collision the visibility for the driver of the Audi to her left of traffic approaching was severely limited by trees, shrubs and other plant growth on the central reservation. His evidence showed that because of this restriction of visibility the Audi driver would not have been able to see the motorcycle when she moved out of the opening, and that even had the motorcycle's speed been within the 70 mph limit the Audi driver may well not have been able to see the motorcycle as she began to pull out from the central reservation. He measured the visibility available to the Audi driver as 87 metres: He measured the same line of visibility after the growth has been cut,as 270 metres Fax: and The Slip

Action should be taken

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you Mr John Woods have the power to take such action_

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Report details

Reference: 2016-0166
Date of report: 29 April 2016
Coroner: Graham Danbury
Coroner area: Hertfordshire

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: 24 Jun 2016.

Sent to

Hertfordshire County Council

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.