Developing a Local Authority Policy Document Jim Gibbins

Developing a Local Authority Policy Document Jim Gibbins Cheshire County Council www. cheshire. gov. uk

Format of Presentation • Background • Implications for Cheshire County Council • Cheshire’s Road Safety Audit Policy & Procedures • What did the policy include • Recommendations • How to develop a Local Authority RSA policy • The future of Safety Audit for Cheshire County Council

Background • Objective of Road Safety Audit • Integral element of road scheme design • HD 19/94 & HA 42/94 • Guidelines followed by Cheshire’s Road Safety Auditors • Guidance indicated ‘ 3’ stages to be audited

Background • IHT Guidelines for Shire County Councils • Based on Cheshire’s collisions – 1. 5 to 2 people required • No direct staff provision for Road Safety Audit • Six week target response time introduced • Significant backlog of road safety audits to undertake

Background Cheshire Herefordshire Lancashire Leicestershire Nottinghamshire Worcestershire Highway Schemes Audited? Section 38 schemes Section 278 schemes Developer-led schemes Sustainable transport schemes Maintenance schemes LTP Safety schemes Traffic management schemes Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Financial cut off for schemes to audit? No >£ 200 k No No >£ 5 k No 5 2 3 4 8 ? Number of staff involved in Safety Audits? Information source taken from 2005

Background Numbers of safety audits undertaken prior to Cheshire’s Policy of HD 19/03

HD 19/03 • HD 19/94 & HA 42/94 superseded • HD 19/03 introduced in November 2003 • Mandatory on Trunk Roads & Motorways • Recommended for use by Local Authorities • Responsibility of LA’s to establish their own policy • Generated group discussions

Response to HD 19/03 • Increased emphasis on road safety qualifications • Highway Authorities considered too onerous • Highway Authorities unable deliver to standard • Suggest that Highway Authorities have greater problems than consultants • The need to develop a formal documented procedure

Principal Changes & Implications PRINCIPLE CHANGE of HD 19/03 q An Audit Team consisting of an Audit Team Leader and at least one Audit Team Member IMPLICATIONS FOR CHESHIRE q This would give rise to a significant staff resource issue for Cheshire’s Road Safety Unit q Must work together on all aspects q Previous requirement was for of an audit at each stage only one person to undertake an audit at each stage of a scheme’s design.

Principal Changes & Implications PRINCIPLE CHANGE of HD 19/03 IMPLICATIONS FOR CHESHIRE q Specific requirements are q The majority of the staff within stipulated acceptable training the Collision Investigation Unit and experience relating to road at the time were suitably safety engineering for all Audit qualified to be either Audit Team Members. An Audit Team Leaders or Audit Team Leader must have achieved all Members. the requirements of an Audit Team Member previously. q Additional costs to the Service in terms of externally provided q Both must achieve a minimum training and development to of 2 days per year CPD in Road ensure adequate CPD. Not all Safety Audit, Accident CPD needs to be attendance at Investigation or Road Safety courses and some can be Engineering. accrued via research.

Principal Changes & Implications PRINCIPLE CHANGE of HD 19/03 IMPLICATIONS FOR CHESHIRE q The Introduction of Interim Road q This had minimal affect as Safety Audit. interim Audits would only need to be undertaken on very large or major schemes.

Principal Changes & Implications PRINCIPLE CHANGE of HD 19/03 IMPLICATIONS FOR CHESHIRE q At Stage 3, the Audit Team are required to examine the site during the hours of darkness so that hazards particular to night time operation can be identified. q This will result in staff being required to work during the evenings and late at night during the spring and summer months. q Would result in considerable additional costs to the Service in respect of overtime payments. Time off in Lieu was considered counter productive to the other work needed to be undertaken by the Road Safety staff.

Principal Changes & Implications PRINCIPLE CHANGE of HD 19/03 IMPLICATIONS FOR CHESHIRE q An additional Audit Stage 4. q Significant staff resource issue, Accident monitoring reports shall particularly for the 36 months be prepared 12 and 36 months ‘after’ audit which would involve after the completion of the a detailed in depth study of highway improvement scheme. every scheme implemented any collisions that occurred after. q Improvements identified during 36 month audits of development generated schemes should be funded by the developer, rather than funded by the Highway Authority.

Road Safety Audit Procedures The Purpose: • To set out Cheshire County Council’s policy • To set out standard procedures to be followed • To provide a guide for all parties involved in road and development schemes • Identifies roles & responsibilities

Road Safety Audit Procedures Who is the document aimed at? • Clients – Planning & Transportation Departments, Developers • Designers – Own in-house as well as external • Road Safety Audit Teams – In house and external • Development Control Officers – Planning & Transportation • Local Politicians

Road Safety Audit Procedures Roles & Responsibilities • Commission the audit client • Provide a brief, plans, etc project manager • Carry out the audit team • Respond to the audit project manager • Finalise action client

Road Safety Audit Policy What did the policy include? • Aims & Objectives • Brief history of Road Safety Audit • The various stages at which safety audits should be undertaken • Typical numbers of safety audits undertaken • Current staff resource issues

Road Safety Audit Policy What did the policy include? • Impact and Implications • What is required to undertake a safety audit - Safety Audit brief from the designer - Purpose of the scheme - Detailed scheme drawings (relevant to stages 1, 2 or 3) - Known departures from standard - Previous exception reports relating to the scheme - and much more! • Conclusion & Recommendation

Road Safety Audit Policy Conclusion • Not possible to fully adopt HD 19/03 • Current workloads & staff resources • Considered the need to increase staffing to adopt fully • Not compliance could lead to criticism of the County Council & potential litigation. • Concluded that HD 19/03 can only be adopted partly

Policy Recommendations ROAD TYPE EX TRUNK A B C UNCLASSIFIED NUMBER OF AUDITORS Minimum 2 1 1 1 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED Yes Yes Yes DARKNESS AUDITS If appropriate No No No SCHEMES > £ 500 k INTERIM AUDITS STAGE 4 - 12 MONTH ACCIDENT AUDITS No No No STAGE 4 - 36 MONTH ACCIDENT AUDITS No No No

Road Safety Audits Numbers of safety audits undertaken after part adopting to HD 19/03

Comparison of Audits Total Audits Prior to HD 19/03 Total Audits after part adoption of HD 19/03 Year No of Audits 2001 109 2005 150 2002 66 2006 99 2003 122 2007 94 2004 151 2008 57 Total 338 Total 400 Year 2008 to end of September

How to develop a RSA Policy • Relevant to own requirements & resources • Should be presented to local politicians for approval • Seek help and advice • Can be a ‘short’ or ‘long’ policy document • Clearly identify roles & responsibilities • The types of schemes to be audited and at what stages • Establish who carries out the audit

How to develop a RSA Policy • Training for safety auditors • Who else is involved (e. g. Police) • The format of the report • Who writes exception reports • An arbitration process • Use of checklists

Ensure you Refer to your Policy !

The Future of Safety Audit for Cheshire County Council • Revision of Road Safety Audit Policy Document - Cheshire splitting into 2 new unitary authorities from 1 st April 2009 • Ensure policy & procedure is put in place • Ensure it is approved and documented • Ensure adequate training, skills and knowledge is maintained

And Finally…. . A thought…. . • There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way of developing a Road Safety Audit policy, by having one you will have a greater chance if challenged at an enquiry or within a litigation case. GET YOUR POLICY SORTED AND GET IT DOCUMENTED !

Thank You