Road Safety - Dangerous Road Junctions

Description

 

Road Junctions on the Highway Network are locations where collisions are most likely to occur. Rules exist that motorists have to obey if they are to negotiate the junction safely. Different types of junction exist and depending on the circumstances one type may be better than others for either capacity or road safety purposes.

The Council is required to look at all reported personal injury accidents that occur on its roads. Where there is a cluster at road junctions officers will examine the causes of the accidents determined by the police officers that attended the scene to see if the highway layout was a factor.

 

Eligibility

Anyone can bring to the Council's attention a junction that they consider may be dangerous and it can be checked against the police accident records.

Procedure

 

In matters of road safety the Police will always be consulted and supply the accident data for the site.

Where accidents have occurred those sites will be visited and traffic observed negotiating the junction.

Based on these observations, accident reports and police comments, a decision will be reached on whether the junction layout has been a factor in the accidents or if it is driver behaviour and failure to obey the rules that is the problem.

Where the layout is considered to have been a contributory factor a junction improvement will be considered and funding sought. Where the fault is with the road user then a programme of publicity, education and enforcement may be drawn up.

 

Helplines

 

Highways and Engineering, General Enquiries, telephone: 01226 773555

South Yorkshire Police, telephone: 0114 220 2020

 

Charges/Fees

 

Accident investigation is a statutory duty of the Council so no charge is made for investigation.

However anyone requesting accident details will be charged an administration fee that reflects the amount of work involved in collecting the relevant records and producing them in the format requested.

A minimum charge of £70 + vat will be made.

 

Methods of Payments Available

Where a charge is levied for a service an invoice will be raised which will indicate the methods of payment that the Council accepts.

Opening Times/Locations

Opening Times and Locations

How can the customer help

 

Please explain the problem accurately and fully. If you want to describe an accident only do so if you personally witnessed what happened.

Many accidents are referred to as 'serious' when in fact no-one has been injured and the 'serious' description comes from seeing a badly damaged vehicle. Please take care therefore, when describing the type of accident that has occurred.

Make sure that you give accurate location details and if possible leave your own contact details so that we can clarify any points with you.

 

Application form references

 

Request an Assessment of a Dangerous Junction

 

 

Legislation

 

A Highway Authority is required under Section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to study accidents on roads in its area and take measures it sees fit to reduce the occurrence of accidents in the future.

 

Response Times/Next Steps

When an accident problem is identified after investigation the time taken to implement any changes will depend on the nature and scale of the junction modification, the need to acquire land and funding availability.

Out of Hours Procedure

 

Generally it is best to notify your concerns during normal office hours, however, you can ring the general enquiries telephone number 01226 773555, anytime.

 

Owner Officer Contact Details

 

Highways and Engineering, General Enquiries, telephone: 01226 773555

South Yorkshire Police, telephone: 0114 220 2020

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why doesn't the Council provide more warning signs to help motorists?

Overuse of signs is counterproductive to road safety and produces 'sign clutter'. Signs should only be provided where an attentive motorist would misread the road layout or get caught out by a highway feature e.g. a bend or junction hidden over the brow of a hill.

 

Related Links:

• Department for Transport Website

Last modified on 16/9/2008