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recurance

Standing water on road leading to hydroplaning

Closely relatedConfidence 0.80 · moderate5 reports · 2016–2026No published response to an earlier report One-page brief (print or PDF)

National Highways received 5 coroners' reports about this hazard between 25 Oct 2016 and 15 Jul 2026.

They came from 5 different coroners in 5 coroner areas. A similar concern was raised again 4 times after the first warning.

A published response was found for 4 of the 4 earlier reports, stating 9 specific actions.

5
reports
5
different coroners
2016–2026
years
0.80
lowest link confidence

The story, report by report

Spacing grows with the time between reports.

  1. First warning

    Kevin Hefferman↗

    25 Oct 2016 · Graham Danbury · Hertfordshire

    “Police officers who attended the scene noticed, in addition to standing water on the carriageway, a flow of water across the westbound carriageway at or near the point where the BMW began to veer to the left.”
    Original on judiciary.uk ↗

    National Highways responded.Response (PDF) ↗

  2. 11 months later

    Raised again · 1st time

    Shahbaz Salim↗

    22 Sept 2017 · Andrew McNamara · Nottinghamshire

    “The scene of the collision is in a natural 'bowl' and that, unless effectively drained, it is a point at which standing water will accumulate during and/or after heavy rainfall”
    Original on judiciary.uk ↗

    National Highways responded, stating 4 specific actions.Response (PDF) ↗

    “The drainage scheme is progressing as planned through the design and development phases with an estimated start date on the A46 in February 2018. The work will take place over a period of approximately 20 weeks with a planned completion date of June 2018.”

    Stated timescale: June 2018

    “Highways England are in discussions with and his land agent ( Shouler & Son) regarding the removal of the access to the field which will allow us to install a continuous vehicle safety restraint barrier. Communication was made with during week commencing 25 September 2017 immediately following the inquest. As a result, discussions with began on the 4 October 2017 and continued on the 23 October 2017.”

    2 more stated actions in the Promises tab.

  3. 5 years 2 months later

    Raised again · 2nd time

    Josie Archer-Smith↗

    7 Dec 2022 · James Dillon · Mid Kent and Medway

    Closely relatedConfidence 0.80 · moderatea different coroner
    “The crash location is at the bottom of an incline on the M20 motorway which normally would not cause an issue, however the road also has a camber which causes water to run across the carriageway rather than draining into either the central reservation of the drain on the hard shoulder”
    Original on judiciary.uk ↗

    Repeated from the earlier report:wateracrosscarriageway

    National Highways responded, stating 4 specific actions.Response (PDF) ↗Response (PDF) ↗

    “South East Regional Operations Centre (SEROC) set variable message signs to display”

    Stated timescale: 08 February 2023

    “170 metres of combined kerb drainage jetted, 200 metres x 2 Acco drains jetted and a full CCTV drainage survey carried out”

    Stated timescale: 08 February 2023

    2 more stated actions in the Promises tab.

  4. 2 years 8 months later

    Raised again · 3rd time

    James Scott↗

    24 Jul 2025 · Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp · Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton

    Closely relatedConfidence 0.85 · higha different coroner
    “(2) Whilst the precise cause of the flooding is unknown, a more regular maintenance schedule may have prevented the buildup of vegetation within the gullies and therefore assisted in the drainage of the heavy rainfall experienced that day”
    Original on judiciary.uk ↗

    Repeated from the earlier report:heavyrainfall

    National Highways responded, stating 1 specific action.Response (PDF) ↗

    “The first drainage flood risk site visit of financial year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 was ordered on 23 April 2024 with a six-month window for completion. The work was completed on 31 August 2024.”

    Stated timescale: 31 August 2024

  5. 1 year later

    Raised again · 4th time

    Cody Stock↗

    15 Jul 2026 · Hassan Shah · Northamptonshire

    Identical hazardConfidence 0.90 · higha different coroner
    “The centralised location of these collisions suggests that there may be ongoing issues with drainage on this section of the road.”
    Original on judiciary.uk ↗

    National Highways responded.Response (PDF) ↗Response (PDF) ↗

  6. All reports to National Highways

Next

This shows that a similar concern was raised again after an earlier report. It does not say why, and it is not a finding about any organisation or person. To report an error, see the corrections route.

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Source: Prevention of Future Deaths reports and responses published by the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary at judiciary.uk. Crown copyright, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Data updated 26 Oct 2026.

A link shows that a similar concern was raised again, not why. It is not a finding about any organisation or person. Methodology and responsible use · Report an error