Major Road Network identified as 'road safety priority'

26/11/2024 | CHRIS AMES

Major Road Network identified as 'road safety priority'

The crash rate on major local authority roads in England is four times that on National Highways’ strategic road network (SRN), a new report has found.

The Road Safety Foundation’s (RSF) annual crash risk mapping report argues that investing £2.5bn in road safety schemes – mostly in local roads – could prevent more than 17,000 deaths and serious injuries over the next 20 years, saving society nearly £9bn.

Driving Change: Investing in Safer Roads analyses the performance of road networks in England, Scotland and Wales, identifying opportunities to invest in road safety schemes based upon the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) that should be achievable on each road.

It also contains a map showing the statistical risk of a fatal or serious injury crash occurring on Britain’s motorway and ‘A’ road network from 2020 to 2022.

The risk is calculated by comparing the frequency of road crashes resulting in fatal or serious injury (FSCs) on every stretch of road, and the volume of traffic each road is carrying.

This year, 2% of England’s roads are classified as high-risk, rising to 3% in Scotland and 5% in Wales.

But the crash rate on the English local authority roads identified by the Government as the major road network (MRN) is 41 FSCs per billion vehicle kilometres, compared with nine FSCs per billion vehicle kilometres on the SRN.

The number of fatal and adjusted serious crashes per 100km road length on the MRN – known as crash density – is also more than three times that of the average road in Scotland and Wales, and more than double that of strategic roads across Britain.

RSF executive director Dr Suzy Charman said: ‘The high crash density and risk on the Major Road Network makes it a priority for road safety investment, and yet we still do not measure and track road safety performance on it.

‘Moreover, there is no dedicated funding stream to address safety here. We estimate that on the MRN a £1.2bn investment would prevent 7,875 deaths and serious injuries over 20 years, with a net present value of £4bn.’

Overall, the RSF identified 9,453km of ‘high-return’ roads, across 584 routes, on which it said a £2.5bn investment could prevent 17,101 deaths and serious injuries over the next 20 years and deliver a benefit to society of £8.7bn.

Dr Charman added: ‘The opportunities to reduce death and serious injury are clear, and the impact of such investment would mean not just casualty savings but also tangible relief for an overburdened NHS and social care system.’

The RSF said its annual crash risk mapping dataset has been used by several strategic and local authorities to understand the safety performance of their roads and prioritise routes for road safety investment.

In the case of the SRN, National Highways has prioritised routes with a high crash density and a low star rating. With the Government’s Safer Roads Fund, local authority routes were selected based on the potential return on investment.

The RSF said schemes funded by the £185m Safer Roads Fund are expected to prevent 2,600 fatal and serious injuries over 20 years, with a societal benefit of £1.2bn.

Dr Charman said: ‘There is little doubt that the numbers stack up for investment in infrastructure safety measures.

‘The investment portfolio opportunities that we identify in this report have high indicative benefit-cost ratios, which is why we are calling for ambitious investment in strategic, major and local roads.’

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Roadworker/Driver

Grade 6 £25,183 - £25,638 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for Roadworker/trainee LGV drivers to be part of our team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Chargehand (2 Posts)

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for experienced Project Chargehands to be part of the Highways Construction Services team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Lawyer 2- Planning and Highways

£49,764 - £54,181
We are looking for a fresh thinking and enthusiastic Planning and Highways Lawyer Hereford, Herefordshire
Recruiter: Herefordshire Council

Development Engineer

£35,967 - £41,268 per annum
Are you ready to play a key role in shaping and safeguarding the future of our highways and public spaces? Bexley (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Bexley

Professional Services Partnering Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Professional Services Partnering Manager to lead the strategic management Darley Dale, Matlock
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Technical Supervision Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are looking for an experienced and driven Technical Supervision Manager to lead our technical supervision teams within the Highways Service. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Street Lighting Electrician (CDC)

Grade 8, £32,662 - £36,239 (pay award pending)
Highways Operations is a growing service area within the Place directorate. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Highways Assistant Engineer WMF2133e

£39,513 to £40,476
We have an exciting opportunity for the right person to work within the challenging and ever-changing landscape. Penrith, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Inspector/NRSWA

£36,345 - £40,344
We are looking for an organised and self-motivated individual to join our Streetworks Team based in Hackney Central. Hackney, London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Hackney Council

Structures Commissioner

Grade 14 £53,166 - £59,080 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join our team as the Structures Commissioner. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader Network Co-ordination

£51,429 - £58,140
As Team Leader for Network Coordination, you’ll manage a team that oversees all works and events on our public highways. Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater)
Recruiter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER

£43693 - £46731
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our team in Hull as a Principal Transport Planning Officer. Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Recruiter: Hull City Council

HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER - 4 POSTS

£43693 - £46731
We have several exciting opportunities for suitably qualified Highways Civil Engineers and Traffic Engineers Wilson Centre, 1st floor, Hull HU1 2AG
Recruiter: Hull City Council

Principal Transport Planner

£45,718 to £49,764
Do you have considerable experience in the transport strategy and policy, and are you looking for your next career development opportunity? Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Sheffield City Council

Project Lead - Bridges and Structures WMF3037e

£45,718 to £46,731
We are currently seeking to recruit a Project Lead to join our Bridges and Structures team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highway Network Technician - WMF2090e

£27,711 - £28,624
We are looking to recruit a friendly and motivated candidate to join our Highways Maintenance Team as Highways Network Technician. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW