Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Gavin Roberts

Ref: 2014-0120 Date: 14 Mar 2014 Coroner: N J Mundy Area: Rotherham Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

The current 60mph speed limit for a specific bend is too high, and warning signs are inadequate, particularly as the limit increases on approach, contributing to repeated incidents.

Date 14 Mar 2014

56-day deadline 9 May 2014 est.

Responses identified 1 of 1

Road (Highways Safety) related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

The current 60mph speed limit for a specific bend is too high, and warning signs are inadequate, particularly as the limit increases on approach, contributing to repeated incidents.

View full coroner's concerns

(1) The current speed restriction of 60 mph is higher than the maximum speed at which The bend can safely be negotiated.

(2) The speed restriction actually increases from 40 mph to 60 mph on the approach to the bridge.

(3) The of warning signs appear to be inadequate in the presence of (1) and (2) above given the number of recorded incidents at this location.

Responses

1 respondent

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Local Authority / Fire Service

30 Apr 2014 PDF

Action Taken

• The Council has carried out an investigation into the speed limit and warning signs on Rollings Lane. • The investigation involved reviewing collision data and conducting speed surveys. • The Council's database shows 7 injury collisions in the last 5 years on the specified section of Rollings Lane. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Ms Mundy Gavin Anthony Roberts, deceased I refer to your letter dated 18 March 2014 and the attached report regarding the inquest into the death of Gavin Anthony Roberts. We have noted your concerns about the speed limit and warning signs currently in place on the section of Rollings Lane where the fatal collision took place. As a result we have carried out an investigation that has involved looking at the number and circumstances of collisions that have taken place, the speed of traffic, the suitability of the current speed limit and the adequacy of existing warning signs. In terms of collisions our database, which contains details of injury collisions supplied by South Yorkshire Police, shows there have been 7 collisions in the last 5 years (2009 to 2013 inclusive) involving injury on the section of Rollings Lane where the national speed limit currently applies. Two of the collisions resulted in a fatal and a serious injury being sustained with the other five involving slight injuries. Four of the seven collisions involved a vehicle losing control on the bend near the bridge when travelling towards Thrybergh, with one of these being the fatal collision involving Gavin Anthony Roberts. The other 3 collisions at this location resulted in slight injuries being sustained. All of the drivers involved in these 4 collisions were 25 years of age or younger. Speed surveys have been carried out on 2 sections of Rollings Lane, location A - 110 metres east of the bridge where the national speed limit applies and location B - 440 metres east of the bridge where the speed limit is 40 mph. At location A the 85th percentile speed (the speed at which 85 per cent of motorists travel at or below and which is used when setting speed limits) was found to be 44mph towards Thrybergh and 46mph towards Ravenfield both of which are within the speed limit. Measurements taken at location B show speeds to be 49mph in each direction which are in excess of the posted speed limit. In order to reduce the number of collisions taking place and to ensure the speed limit is more appropriate to the characteristics, environment and measured speeds on the road, it is proposed to amend the speed limit to 50 mph, subject to cgigS| the necessary approvals and agreements, as shown on the attached plan. EQUALITY r FRAMEWORK f \ INVESTORS I r FOR LOCAL ■ i I M. V i\i ppnpi E Gold GOVERNMENT

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-2- This will involve reducing the speed limit where the national speed limit currently applies and raising a short section of the existing 40 mph limit so that the 40 mph limit commences on the Thrybergh side of the car repair garage. In addition, it is planned to improve the warning of the bend near the railway bridge when travelling towards Thrybergh by providing a new bend warning sign, reflective verge marker posts around the bend and repainting an existing ‘SLOW’ marking. These proposals are also shown on the attached drawing. An order will be issued to our contractor to implement the signing improvements in the next two weeks. Changing the speed limit will take longer to achieve due to the need to prepare legal orders and carry out consultations with interested parties and could take up to 9 months. If you require further information or clarification of any issue please do not hesitate to contact me.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 30th October 2013 I commenced an investigation into the death of Gavin Anthony ROBERTS, age 25 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 12th of March 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was Accidental death - on 24 of October 2013 Gavin Anthony Roberts was riding his motorcycle along Hollings Lane only days after having passed his test. Significantly underflated tyres were a major factor in loss of control of his motorcycle which led to a fatal collision with an oncoming vehicle. The medical cause of death was 1a) traumatic cerebral and multi-organ injuries and fractures, 1b) road traffic collision.

Circumstances of the death

Gavin Anthony Roberts was travelling along Hollings Lane in the direction of Thrybergh on his motorcycle. The road narrows to a bridge on the Hollings Road prior to which the road first bends slightly to the right before straightening and bending to the left. Visibility of oncoming vehicles on the approach to the bridge is extremely restricted due to the high walls and fencing of the bridge, hedging and the bends in the road. Mr Roberts had completed an overtaking manoeuvre on the approach to the bridge, lost control on the left hand bend and came off his motorcycle directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle, the driver of which had no prior warning of the presence of Mr Roberts on the road due to the limited visibility described. Shortly prior to the bridge in both directions the speed limit increases from 40 to 60 miles per hour. There are street lights along this stretch albeit more than 187 metres apart. Although under inflated tyres on the motorcycle was a significant factor in these events, the collision investigator gave evidence that he had calculated that the maximum speed at which the bend can be safely negotiated is 48 miles per hour (despite there being a 60 mile per hour speed restriction in place). Despite warning signs with ‘slow’ painted on the road and warning signs on the approach to the bridge in each direction, there have been 25 collisions at this location in the last 5 years.

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Report details

Reference: 2014-0120
Date of report: 14 March 2014
Coroner: N J Mundy
Coroner area: Rotherham

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: 9 May 2014 (estimated).

Sent to

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.