Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2018

Paul Fairey

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2018-0399, written 21 Dec 2018. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report21 Dec 2018
Reference2018-0399
DeceasedPaul Fairey
CoronerPhilip Barlow
Coroner areaLondon Inner (South)
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.

ANNEX A

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1. London Borough of Lewisham

1 | CORONER

| am Philip Barlow, assistant coroner, for the coroner area of Inner South London

2 | 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.

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 28 September 2017 | commenced an investigation into the death of Paul Fairey, age
44, The investigation conciuded at the end of the inquest on 20 December 2018. The
conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision. The Medical Cause of Death was
1a) Brainstem herniation 1b) Head injury.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

1. Paul Fairey was a pedestrian on Mayow Rd, SE26. At about 00.40 on 23
September 2017 he walked into the northbound carriageway and was hit by a
car travelling north. Mr Fairey suffered a severe head injury from which he later
died.

2. The collision occurred 500m south of Perry Vale between the junctions of
Adamsrill Rd and De Frene Rd, near a pedestrian crossing point and to the
entrance of Mayow Park.

3. The evidence at the inquest was that Mr Fairey would have been difficult to see.
He was wearing dark clothing but also the collision occurred in an area of poor
visibility.

4. The speed limit on the road is 20mph. The evidence was that the car was
travelling in excess of this.

5 | 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) The street lamp nearest to the collision site (8m south of De Frene Rd, on the east
side of Mayow Rd) was shrouded by tree foliage causing a large shadow across Mayow
Rd. This shadow encompassed the site of the collision and the nearby pedestrian
crossing point.

(2) There is a painted “SLOW” on the north bound lane near to the collision site. The

evidence was that this sign has faded and may not be clearly visible to a motorist.

(3) There is a speed cushion close to the pedestrian crossing point. The evidence was
that a car can straddle this speed cushion without needing to slow down. Also the speed
cushion is beginning to break up.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you or your
organisation has 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 18 February 2019. |, 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

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons:

1. a. Fairey’s mother) c/o Slater & Gordon solicitors

| have ‘

2. erious Incident Investigation Unit)
3.

who may find it useful or of interest.

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

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful
or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your
response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

21.12.18 Philip Barlow 2, . PR
l ae c

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 Lewisham (PDF)
RECEIVED

Lewisham

Mr  Philip Barlow
Deputy Coroner for London Inner South
Coroner for Inner South District Greater London
Southwark Coroner’s Court, 1 Tennis Street,
Southwark.
SE1 1YD

Interim Chief  Executive
London Borough of Lewisham
Laurence House
Catford, London SE6  4RU

12  February 2019

Dear Mr Barlow

Re: Prevent Future Deaths Report for  Paul Fairey (deceased) (date of

death: 23/09/17

On  behalf  of  the  Council I  can  confirm  receipt of  your  letter  dated  the  21 st December 2018
containing the  Prevent Future  Death  Report  touching the  death  of  Mr  Paul  Fairey. I  set  out
below our response to the matters of concern raised in your letter.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN raised are as follows. -

The street lamp nearest to the collision site (8m south of  De Frene Rd, on the  east

(1) 
side of Mayow Rd)  was  shrouded by tree foliage causing a large shadow across Mayow Rd.
This shadow encompassed the site of the collision and the nearby pedestrian crossing point.

Response -  The trees under consideration are privately owned. Letters were sent to the
adjacent property owners in May 2018 requiring that they cut back the tree foliage to the
highway boundary.  As no  action has been taken the Council is arranging for the foliage to be
cut back. The  work is expected to be completed by the end of  February 2019.

There is a painted "SLOW" on the north bound lane near to the collision site. The

(2) 
evidence was that this sign has  faded and may not be clearly visible to a motorist.

Response -  The northbound "SLOW" marking approaching the crossing point was remarked
in December 2017. The southbound slow marking approaching the crossing point was  also
remarked.

There is a speed cushion close to the pedestrian crossing point. The evidence was

(3) 
that a car can straddle this speed cushion without needing to slow down.

Response -  The speed cushions in Mayow Road have been in place for  a number of  years
and may be less effective due to long term wear. Financial constraints generally mean  that
widespread renewal of  worn traffic calming features is not feasible. However it is proposed to
reconstruct the  speed cushions in close proximity of the two pedestrian refuge crossing
points adjacent to Mayow Park to ensure that they are as effective as possible. This work is
programmed to be completed by the  end of April 2019.

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