Adam Wilcox
23 Dec 2019 · Coroner Christopher Wilkinson · Hampshire (Central)
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of pedestrian or cycle crossing on A27 Mansbridge Road
“The A27 Mansbridge Road at the stretch of carriageway from well before the White Swan pub to beyond the scene of this incident (as far as Gaters Hill) does not provide any form of (safe) pedestrian or cycle crossing or any warnings to motorists that pedestrians or cyclist may be crossing along its length.”
2. pedestrians crossing at barrier ends without safe crossing
“For pedestrians walking (or cyclists not on the carriageway heading) east on the southern side, the only option to travel beyond the scene of this incident is on the northern side of the A27 carriageway. As such, anyone who has not sought to cross the carriageway at a much earlier juncture is either forced to retrace their steps to find another point to cross or (as is more likely) to attempt to cross the carriageway once the path way runs out, where it tapers and stops at the metal barriers and”
3. high traffic volume on A27 increasing risk to pedestrians and cyclists
“The A27 Mansbridge Road is a busy, popular and major throughway, running east- west and south of and parallel to the M27. As such it presents an increased risk to pedestrians and cyclists alike”
4. observed pedestrians and cyclists climbing barriers to cross
“am advised by the Roads Policing Unit that during their visit to the scene (in the conduct of the forensic examination for this inquest) they themselves saw several pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road, at either end, often climbing the metal barrier where the pavement ended.”
5. history of collisions involving pedestrians on A27
“am advised that in the past 5 years there have been 15 collisions on the A27 between Itchenside Close and Allington Lane, of which 5 were classed as serious collisions and 10 classed as slight, with 11 occurring within daylight hours. 2 specific incidents (excluding this fatality) involved pedestrians being struck by vehicles.”
Responses
No published response was found on judiciary.uk.