Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2014

Victoria Rhodes

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2014-0422, written 30 Sep 2014. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report30 Sep 2014
Reference2014-0422
DeceasedVictoria Rhodes
CoronerThomas Osborne
Coroner areaMilton Keynes
CategoryRoad (Highways Safety) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

Thomas Ralph Osborne
Senior Coroner for Milton Keynes

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: Head of Highways, Milton Keynes Council, Civic
Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes, MK9 3EJ

CORONER

| am Thomas Ralph Osborne, HM Senior Coroner for Milton Keynes

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and
regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

http://www. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7

http:/Avww. legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/made

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 03/03/2014 | commenced an investigation into the death of Victoria Elizabeth Rhodes, 21 .
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 19 September 2014. The conclusion of
the inquest was Road Traffic Collision. On 3rd March 2014 the deceased crossed the V11
Tongwell Street and stepped in front of a car on the dual carriageway and was struck by the car.
She died from Severe Multiple Injuries.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

The deceased had attempted to cross the dual carriageway, V11 Tongwell Street from the
Broughton side of the road and has been struck by a Peugeot car that was approaching from her
right.The deceased was pronounced dead at the scene. She had attempted to cross the road
ignoring the foot bridge that was available to her.

CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my
opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it
is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

(1) That on the grid roads in Milton Keynes the speed limit remains at 70 mph.

(2) That pedestrians have access to the fast roads despite the attempts to encourage them to
use the pedestrian walk ways.

(3) The spped limit of 7Omph that operates throughout Milton Keynes should now be reviewed.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you as Head of
Highways in Milton Keynes have the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by
26/11/2014. |, the coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the
timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons
namely the Family of the deceased and to Roads Policing at Thames Valley Police, Central
Milton Keynes Police Station, 302 North Row, Milton Keynes MK9 2DS

| am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish ejétrer or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He
may send a copy of this a who he believes may find it useful or of interest.
i ry eC
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2
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A
Dated 30 Sept i |

TAN oroner, at the time of your response, about the
ij i\ - Chief Coroner.

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HM Senior Coroner for Milton Keynes

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Milton Keynes Hospital (PDF)
MILTON  KEYNES

C O U N C I L

2 8  NOV  2014

Mr Tom Osborne
Her Majesty’s Coroner for Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Council

Chief Executive

Our Ref:

Your Ref:

Reply To:

25 November 2014

Dear Mr Osborne

RE: VICTORIA ELIZABETH RHODES -  DECEASED

I  refer  to  your  letter  of  1  October,  sent  to 
Regulation 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

  under  the  terms  of

Our thoughts and sincere condolences are obviously with the family of Victoria Rhodes
following their sad loss.

I note your view that the evidence given at the Inquest in this case raises a concern that
speed limits and pedestrian access to the grid road network could risk further deaths.

Milton Keynes  Council  takes a  proactive  approach  to  its  responsibility to  promote  the
safety of all road users in the Borough and to eliminate or reduce risk to life.  2014 has
seen  an  unexpected  rise  in  serious  incidents  on  the  network  and  as  a  direct  result,
Transport  and  Highways officers  met  with  the  Police  in  May  to  consider  appropriate
actions.  Following this, Cabinet at their July meeting, endorsed a comprehensive road
safety review of the accidents in Milton Keynes with a view to report back to Cabinet at
the end of 2014.  A copy of this report is attached.

We have  very carefully considered  the three  points  you raised in  your  letter  and  they
will be borne in mind when compiling the Report into Road Accident Casualities in the
Borough.  We hope that the recommendations  will help  to reduce risk  on  the network
and to assure you and the families of those affected by such accidents that the Council
is working to improve road safety.  A copy of the report will be forwarded to you when it
is published.

Chief Executive’s Office, Milton Keynes Council, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East,
Central Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ

 Meanwhile we will continue to monitor the highway network and work with our partners
Thames Valley Police in dealing with issues as they arise.

I  trust  that  this  reassures  you  and  other  recipients  of  this  letter  that  the  Council  has
sought to take reasonable account of road safety concerns.

Yours sincerely

Chief Executive

Enc:
July 2014 Cabinet Report
July 2014 Annex to Cabinet Report
Appendix A MKC Accident Monitoring Procedures

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