Key industry bodies have released new guidance on delivering mitigation measures against 'determined vehicles' in temporary traffic management operations.
Defined as any vehicle that 'intentionally or persistently breaches a traffic management layout, despite standard controls', determined vehicles are a major risk to highways workers, other drivers and themselves.
The Guidance on Additional Measures for Determined Vehicles document was produced by the Traffic Management Contractors Association, the Incursions and IPV Working Group attached to National Highways and the Supply Chain Safety Leadership Council.
It covers the use of determined vehicle mitigation (DVM) systems in secondary work zones and helps contractors understand how 'to assess and review appropriate secondary mitigation measures at work sites, in alignment with UK legislation and best practice, using risk-based assessment of the site'.
It outlines advice on planning, selection and use of secondary mitigation systems, including:
- Roles and responsibilities in risk mitigation
- Mitigation categories and the hierarchy of control when shaping risk-mitigation systems
- Considerations in the decision-making process
- Manufacturer and user responsibilities
- Site risk level assessment for incursion management system selection.
It also has a helpful decision-making flow chart, which notes each step of the risk mitigation process and the key factors involved in each.
The nine-step process outlined in the document is:
- Identify Worksite and Scope of Works
- Gather Site Information
- Assess Threat Type and Likelihood for Each Risk Factor
- Determine Risk Level
- Test via Hierarchy of Control and SFAIRP (so far as is reasonably practicable)
- Select Mitigation as Risk Demands
- Record and Approve Decisions
- Implement and Review
- Continuous Improvement
The guidance is intended for use by principal contractors, temporary traffic management (TTM) organisations, site designers and those responsible for implementing or maintaining these systems on the ground.
It is to be used in conjunction with other relevant guidance such as Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 8: Road Works and Temporary Situations, which covers the design and implementation of TTM systems and applicable signage.
