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ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION REPORT ACCIDENT STUDY A59 Gisburn Road, Km: 65.70 – 71.13, Ribble Valley From 100m west of C590 Sawley Road to 550m west of Mill Lane ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL GUILD HOUSE CROSS STREET PRESTON PR1 8RD November 2009 SAFETY ENGINEERING GROUP

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION REPORT ACCIDENT STUDY

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Page 1: ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION REPORT ACCIDENT STUDY

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION REPORT

ACCIDENT STUDY

A59 Gisburn Road, Km: 65.70 – 71.13, Ribble Valley

From 100m west of C590 Sawley Road to 550m west of Mill Lane

ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

GUILD HOUSE CROSS STREET

PRESTON PR1 8RD

November 2009

SAFETY ENGINEERING GROUP

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ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION REPORT A59 Gisburn Road, Km: 65.70 – 71.13, Ribble Valley From 100m west of C590 Sawley Road to 550m west of Mill Lane. 1. INTRODUCTION This report has been produced following a study of road traffic accidents occurring on A59 Gisburn Road, 65.7Km – 71.13Km, Ribble Valley as a result of the site's position in the County's annual programme of investigations. The study was undertaken by : A. Tsakonas - ( SEG/T&S/HEM) Senior Road Safety Engineer 2. TERMS OF REFERENCE The terms of reference for the study are those described in Section 3.1 of the Department of Transport Accident Investigation Manual. The Study Team has examined and reported only on the road safety implications of the site and has not examined or verified the compliance of any of its features to any other criteria except where specified. 3. DOCUMENTS Accident spotplots, individual accident printouts and balloon plots are available. Some are attached. Accident spot plots, individual accident printouts and balloon plots are available. Some are attached. Police and witness statements have been examined.

Yes No

Photographs are available. Yes

Traffic count information is available. Yes

Speed measurement data is available. Yes Vulnerable Road User Audit has been carried out. Yes

Site inspections took place in November/December 2008. Information pertaining to this investigation is available on the following file references :- TRAFFIC AND SAFETY…………………….. TS/T3/RBV/41

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4. STUDY LENGTH The 5.43Km study length runs from 100m west of Sawley Road to 550m west of Mill Lane in Gisburn. This A59 section is a derestricted (60mph) rural single two way road. Lancashire County Council became responsible for the A59 following its detrunking in June 2006. When travelling northeast bound towards Gisburn, there is a climbing lane approximately 1800m long between Smithies bridge (west of C590 Sawley Road junction) and the lay-by just west of Old Sawley Grange Farm. There are bus stops in both directions by Sawley Road junction. A shared footway/cycleway is provided on the northern side of the A59, between Smithies bridge and Sawley Road. Following eastbound from Old Sawley Grange, the road goes round a long right hand bend where the Rose County abattoir is located on the southern side of A59. The field on the northern side of the A59 and west of Great Dudland railway bridge is regularly used for car boot sale events. The rest of the studied road length, east of the railway bridge, has poor horizontal alignment. The studied length is unlit and has a 'Clearway' Traffic Order. 5. ACCIDENT RECORDS This study covers the 25 personal injury accidents (PIA) which were reported to the police in the time period 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2008, resulting in 41 casualties shown {in brackets} in Figure 1 below. There were 1.64 casualties per accident which is similar to Lancashire's norm of 1.69 casualties/accident on similar roads. Figure 1. Of these accidents: No. Accident Type Studied length Percentage of 60mph sing le

c'way A class Roads, L ancs in 5 (25PIA) years: 2004 & 2008 (1222 PIA)

12 10

Overtaking Involved wet surface

48% 10% 40% 38%

9

killed or Serious Injury (KSI) accidents

36% 27%

9 8

Involved heavy goods vehicles involved rear shunts

36% 6% 32% N/A

6 6

turning right involved motorcyclists

24% 16% 24% 17%

2 involved pedal cyclists 8% 3% Figure 2. � The accident plot shows an equal spread of KSI accidents along the studied length. The 36% KSI rate found is higher than the 27% Lancashire's norm. The small cluster of injury accidents at the junction with Sawley Road has high severity accidents (one fatal, 2 serious

Severity 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Injury Totals

Fatal 0 {0} 0 {0} 1 {1} 0 {0} 2 {2} 3 {3}

Serious 1 {2} 0 {0} 1 {1} 2 {2} 2 {2} 6 {7}

Slight 5 {7} 2 {2} 4 {11} 4 {5} 1 {6} 16 {31}

Total 6 {9} 2 {2} 6 {13} 6 {7} 5 {10} 25 {41}

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and 2 slight). � There was a high accident number involving heavy goods vehicles (see Figure 2). � At a meeting between County Councillors in December 2008, concern was expressed regarding the high accident numbers reported along the A59 route in Ribble Valley and the lack of street lighting and overtaking accidents. The studied length's calculated accident rate is 30 PIA per 100Million vehicle kilometres (17 PIA x 108 divided by 3 years x 5.43 km x 365 x 9,500 vehs) and is greater than the national norm for rural A-class single carriageways is 24 PIA/100Mvehkm (RCGB2006,Table 3). However, there does not seem to be a darkness problem for our studied A59 route length which has a low darkness accident rate (4%) compared to the 13% for unlit 60mph single carriageway A-class Roads in Lancashire (2004- 2008). Overtaking accident numbers were high and occurred along the whole length of this study. � The latest Skidding Resistance survey of the A59 studied route length does not show any carriageway deficiencies. Overall, the 10 wet accidents produce a wet accident rate of 40% which is similar to the 2004-2008 norm for similar roads in Lancashire. � Continuous A59 speed surveys have been carried out in recent years, just east of the farm

access to Great Dudlands. Figure 3 below, shows that the eastbound daily average speeds are reducing whereas westbound traffic speeds remain the same. It is noted that traffic volumes have reduced in recent years and one explanation may be recent high petrol costs.

Figure 3. 6. ITEMS ARISING FROM THIS STUDY (see Accident Plot)

6.1.a) Existing Layout Commencing from Smithies Bridge and travelling northeast bound, the A59 Gisburn Road becomes 2 lanes uphill. A central paved strip 146m long of varying width (1m to 1.7m) is provided 100m northeast of Smithies Bridge. The priority junction with Sawley Road is located on the nearside some 295m north of the end of the central paved strip. In the Clitheroe direction, there is one lane ahead with a marked ghost island for turning right onto Sawley Road (see Photograph 1).

6.1 A59 Gisburn Road: 100m either side of C590 Sawley Road junction

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Double white lines are provided on A59, from the central paved strip to approximately 230m north of Sawley Road. There is a good visibility splay on Sawley Road. A shared pedestrian- cycle path is provided on the northern side of A59 between Sawley Road and Smithies bridge. 6.1.b) Accident History ……………………(1 fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight PIA) One slight injury accident was reported to the police when a motorcyclist on A59 Clitheroe

bound collided with the rear of a van in front. Four accidents (1 fatal, 2 serious, 1 slight) occurred when drivers turned right out of Sawley Road and failed to judge the speed of approaching A59 traffic. These 4 accidents involved side road traffic pulling out across two A59 northeast bound and two A59 southwest bound drivers. One of these was a fatal accident and involved a cyclist who with two other cyclists turned right out of Sawley Road and collided with the front of a car travelling downhill towards Clitheroe.

6.1.c) Problem The high accident severity (60%) at the relatively small accident cluster at A59/C590 junction is because road users have to turn right across derestricted A59 traffic. The fatality at A59/C590 junction involved a vulnerable road user on a Sunday. This studied length is popular for cycling to/from Clitheroe all year round. Driving on A59 towards Clitheroe, traffic drives near the speed limit due to the downhill gradient and it makes it difficult for side road traffic to join the A59 without a safe clear gap. There is a bus stop on the opposite side of Sawley Road which could be hazardous to old pedestrians crossing the A59 when returning to the village. Also, safer turning onto or out of Sawley Road was raised by Gisburn, Bolton by Bowland and Sawley Parishes in their correspondence with the police in November 2008. A 50mph speed limit on A59 was also suggested but this was not accepted in the 2008 speed strategy assessment of the A59 by an external consultant. 6.1.d) Recommendations Single lane dualling was considered at this junction but its great cost outweighed its benefits and was not proposed here. An equally effective/cheaper option (see: Figure 4) is to use carriageway hatched markings to create a single lane northeast bound between Smithies Bridge and C590 Sawley Road junction. It will allow the relocation of the bus stop in the Skipton bound direction from northeast of the A59/C590 junction to southwest side. This proposal could use bolt on type

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kerbs as a trial if needed to form the islands by C590 Sawley Road and will need illuminating the junction. There is no metre hardstrip on A59 opposite C590 Sawley Road. Therefore, it will be safer for Clitheroe bound cyclists from C590 Sawley Road to use the existing 1km long shared cycle-pedestrian route (not shown on the aerial photo in Figure 4) and join A59 by C580 Sawley Road. Area Maintenance have planned to improve the verge sidings in summer 2009 so that this route will be more attractive to west bound cyclists on C590 Sawley Road.

6.2.a) Existing Layout. The climbing uphill lanes (having greater than 5% gradient northeast bound) continue from Sawley Road junction to the lay-by west of Old Sawley Grange Farm. The continuous Double White Line system (DWL, Diag. 1013.1A) on A59 Gisburn Road extends some 250m east of Sawley Road junction. Following this, the 480m to Sawley Old Brow junction is marked as in Diag 1013.1D, allowing overtaking in the downhill direction (towards Clitheroe). Further east, continuous double white lines are marked between Sawley Old Brow and the lay-by access, west of Old Sawley Grange Farm. The layby, previously part of the old A59 route, is now used daily for short breaks by many road users. It has two priority Y-type junctions with the A59. 6.2.b) Accident History ……………………(1 fatal, 1 serious and 7 slight PIA) A fatal PIA occurred when a southwest bound driver pulled out from behind a lorry to overtake it and collided with an oncoming vehicle in the offside lane. A serious injury accident occurred when a northeast bound driver lost control in roadworks and collided with an oncoming vehicle. One slight PIA took place when a coach driver carried out a wide left turn out of the northern end of the lay-by and collided with a Gisburn bound vehicle. A slight PIA involved a rear shunt type collision, Clitheroe bound. Another slight PIA took place when a Gisburn bound lorry driver overtook in road works and collided an oncoming goods vehicle. Four other slight injury accidents involved overtaking - two in each direction. 6.2.c) Problem Driver error when overtaking along the 3 lane section has contributed in these studied accidents. Speed Indication Devices were requested for Gisburn Road in late 2008 by Bolton-by-Bowland /Sawley /Gisburn Parishes but such equipment are not useful for derestricted roads. The parishes also proposed to apply a No-overtaking Order at the straight road section southwest of Sawley Old Brow towards Smithies Bridge. A relevant fatal collision has occurred at that length when a driver pulled out to overtake downhill and collided with an oncoming vehicle. Such head-on accidents, often result in high severity casualties. The 'No-overtaking downhill' proposal has a safety merit and is worth recommending as a remedial measure. Loss of overtaking could give rise to increased overtakings elsewhere but drivers would be aware of the long climbing lane west of Chatburn railway bridge and the dual sections between Clitheroe and Bramley Meade roundabouts. 6.2.d) Recommendations A No-overtaking Order is recommended to stop overtaking downhill from Sawley old Brow junction to Smithies bridge. Therefore, new central double white line markings should be considered where overtaking is currently allowed.

6.2 A59 Gisburn Road: from 100m east of C590 junction to Old Sawley Grange Farm

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6.3 A59 Gisburn Road: from Old Sawley Grange Farm to 100m east of Kiln Lane 6.3.a) Existing Layout The carriageway, 500 metres either side of Rose County Foods, measures approximately 9.4 metres in width consisting of two 3.7 metre running lanes and two 1 metre hard strips. The running lanes are divided by centre line markings and road studs with an appropriate length of 6 metre warning lines and road studs on approach to and past the entrances of Rose County Foods (see Figure 5). The one metre hard strips are delineated with continuous edge of carriageway markings, ending just east of the Great Dudland Farm's access. When about 500 metres away from Rose County Foods and travelling east, the A59(T) follows along a short section of straight carriageway which continues down a slightly falling gradient. Although the buildings of Rose County Foods can be seen from this position the entrances are not visible. Having travelled about 150 metres from this point the carriageway begins a long right hand bend. The extent of the highway on the south side is considerably greater (the boundary of Rose County Foods being set back from the road by about 30 metres at its widest point). From this position drivers become aware of possible vehicles waiting in the entrance to the plant. About 150 metres from the first entrance to the food processing plant there is an access located on the south side of the trunk road. As part of a planning application decision, this was widened in 2002, re-surfaced and provided with raised kerbstones and reflective verge marker posts. Having passed this access drivers become aware of the second entrance to Rose County Foods (for live animals into the abattoir), which is located about 70m east of the first. At a point adjacent to Improved field access the first entrance the carriageway straightens out and continues along the down gradient for a further 200 metres towards a railway bridge. From this point onwards the carriageway begins to climb and curve to the left. Prior to the railway bridge on the northern side of the A59, two adjacent fields are used for car boot sale events. In August 2000 a planning application had been submitted so as to increase the number of markets and car boot sales from 14 to 30 days per year. The A59 was a trunk road at the time, Highways Agency being the highway authority, and this was refused on highway safety grounds.

Carboot sales field accesses

Western ‘clean’ entrance to Rose County Foods Eastern entrance

for animals into Rose County Foods

To CLITHEROE

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6.3.b) Accident History (2 serious and 4 slight PIA) Two PIA which took place by the Rose County Foods eastern access, involved right turning manoeuvres. One shunt type accident has been reported to the police on a Sunday at the western access of the car boot sales field. Three more accidents occurred between eastbound drivers due to right turning traffic onto Great Dudlands Farm access. 6.3.c) Problem The accident trend by Rose County Foods is reducing in recent years, having 2 injury accidents during the studied period 2004-2008 and its accident record only requires monitoring. The visibility splay at the eastern access of the car boot sales field is affected by a line of trees (being below the minimum recommended distance 4.5mx215m) and an improvement is needed. 6.3.d) Recommendations i) Lay A59 central warning line markings at the approaches to and between the junctions Kiln Lane and Great Dudlands Farm track and also between the two car boot sales field accesses. ii) Liaise with field owners to improve drivers' intervisibility with A59 traffic at the eastern access of the car boot sales field by trimming well back trees/hedges. 6.4 A59 Gisburn Road: from 100m east of Kiln Lane to 550m west of Mill Lane (in Gisburn village) 6.4.a) Existing Layout This single carriageway section length has edge lines but no metre strip. There are agricultural fields along the whole route length. There is an uphill gradient towards Leewarden Farm which then becomes downhill towards Gisburn village. The horizontal alignment of the bend (300m south of Leewarden Farm) is poor and a 'Double White Line' system is provided. Warning centre line markings are provided on A59 for some 300m on either side of Stirk House Hotel's access. 6.4.b) Accident History (1 fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight PIA) Three accidents were reported to the police involving Gisburn bound traffic at the bend with the Double White Line system: A lorry driver lost control at the bend, hit trees and overturned (No. 21), a motorcyclist (>500cc) failed to negotiate the left hand bend and collided with an oncoming car (serious PIA) and an inexperienced van driver lost control at the bend (No. 23). A fatal accident occurred at a slight bend between Great Dudlands Farm and Dudland Hollins Farm and involved a young driver, Clitheroe bound, colliding head-on with an oncoming vehicle when he crossed in the opposite direction. A slight injury accident was reported to the police between right turning and stopping traffic at the Stirk House's access. 6.4.c) Problem The eastern part of the Double white Line system at the bend about 300m south of Leewarden Farm, is used for overtaking by Preston bound drivers having no visibility of oncoming traffic due to the right hand bend. The police have mentioned that there have been traffic incidents at this location and suggested assessing before making continuous the broken lines section east of the bend (Figure 6) by Dudland Hollins access. Also, at another bend further west, tractors leaving a field on the southern side of the A59, deposit too much mud on the carriageway ( photographs 2, 3) and in wet conditions this can become a safety hazard especially to motorcyclists.

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6.4.d) Recommendations i) Assess the length of broken Double White Line markings east of the bend. ii) Highway Maintenance to ask the field owner to take appropriate measures which will eliminate/minimise mud deposits on A59 by tractors. iii) Provide hazard marker posts at both bends mentioned above and also along Leewarden Farm's frontage and Stirk House's access. iv) Erect left hand bend chevrons and SLOW carriageway marking for the bend near Dudland Hollins access. Mud

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7. PROPOSALS It is proposed that the recommendations above are the subject of a Local Safety Scheme at an estimated cost of £ 152,000. A scheme will be put forward for consideration for inclusion in next years programme. 8. BENEFITS It is estimated that the above proposals will save 2.4 personal injury accidents per year based on the 17 relevant accidents that have occurred during the study period. This approximates to a saving of 3.9 casualties per year. The First year rate of Return (FYRR) expressed as a percentage, is particularly useful as a performance indicator whereby accident savings are converted into an annual financial saving. Based on June 2007 prices, the calculated FYRR =2.4 x £104,900 x 100% / £152,000 = 166%. This represents a £1.66 saving in the first year to the community for every £1 spent. Based on the County's limited amount of annual resources available for safety schemes, these proposals having a FYRR of 166% will be recommended to compete for funding in the Local Safety Scheme programme 2010-11. 9. STUDY TEAM STATEMENT I certify that I have examined the site, the accident record and other relevant information. The investigation was carried out with the sole purpose of identifying features of the site that could be removed or modified in order to improve the safety record of the site. The problems identified have been noted in this report together with any resulting safety improvements proposed wich I recommend should be considered for implementation.

Signed: A TsakonasA TsakonasA TsakonasA Tsakonas (AIP TEAM MEMBER)

Date: 5 November 2009

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