Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2019

Robert Norton

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2019-0295, written 21 Jan 2019. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report21 Jan 2019
Reference2019-0295
DeceasedRobert Norton
CoronerMartin Fleming
Coroner areaWest Yorkshire (West)
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.

IN THE WEST YORKSHIRE WESTERN CORONER’S COURT
IN. THE MATTER OF: ,

The Inquest Touching the Death of Robert Irwin Norton
A Regulation Report — Action to Prevent Future Deaths

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: | -

Director for Regeneration and Strategy
_Calderdale Council

Northgate House
| Northgate

Halifax

HX11UN

1 | CORONER
Martin Fleming HM Senior Coroner for West Yorkshire Western

CORONER'S LEGAL POWERS

I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the coroners and
7 Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 20 of the Coroners

' | Unvestigations) Regulations 2013

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 3
On.30/8/17 I opened an inquest into the death of Robert Irwin Norton ©
who, at the date of his death was aged 74 years old. The inquest was ©
resumed:and concluded on 14% January 20019

‘I found that the cause of death to be: -

la Traumatic fractures of thoracic spine

arrived ata conclusion of Road Traffic Collision.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH
At approximately 11.45am on 5% April 2018, Mr Norton was riding his
| motor cycle on the roundabout of the A644 Wakefield Road having
approached the roundabout along Wakefield Road from the Cooper

RT3589. 1

[-- Bridge direction. Mr Norton was.travelling around the roundabout in the
offside lane with the intention of joining the M62 eastbound. At t5is time
the driver of a Volvo motor vehicle entered the roundabout in the =:
nearside lane, travelling from the Brighouse direction with the intension.
of travelling straight ahead_ towards Cooper Bridge. The driver of the
motor vehicle was travelling around the roundabout with Mr Norton _
driving his motorcycle alongside. Once at the entry to the slip road-Mr
Norton moved from his offside lane into the path of the Volvo resulting -
in a collision with the off side front wing of the Volvo and causing Mr.
Norton to fall from his motor cycle and collide with a wooden fence
adjacent to the slip road, tragically causing him to sustain fatal injuries.
During the inquest I heard evidence to suggest that the road markings
painted on the road surface were worn and difficult to read with the
potential for causing motorists to be in the incorrect lane to exit the
roundabout onto the entry slip to the M62. Given two lanes on the ©

_| roundabout and two lanes on the slip road, I heard evidence that this
could give the impression that the exiting the roundabout onto the slip *

, uals ‘is possible from either lane. . . ,

CORONER’S CONCERNS
The MATTER OF CONCERN is as follows: -
e To consider the existing legibility of the painted road markings

e To review the existing road lay out in order to prevent potential
‘confusion by motorists

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I
believe that has the power to take such action. In the circumstances iti is
my statutory duty to report to you.

YOUR RESPONSE
You are under a duty to respond to this renert within 56 days of its date; I
may extend that period on request.

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

RT3589 2

COPIES
T have sent a copy of this report to:

E- daughter

ee Wye

ee ye

HE irector for Regeneration and Stratgey-—

Calderdale Council
e Chief Coroner

DATED this 21/1/19:
'D ler

RT3589 - 3

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 Calderdale Council (PDF)
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Council

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Regeneration and Strategy

Strategic Infrastructure
Ainleys Depot
Huddersfield Road
Eiland
HX5 9JR

15 th March 2019

Mr M D Fleming
HM Senior Coroner
City Courts
The Tyrls
BRADFORD
BD1 1LA

Dear Mr Fleming

Robert Norton deceased -  Inquest 14th January 2018

Thank you for your recent report, dated 22nd January 2019, regarding the unfortunate death of
Mr  Robert  Norton.  I  can  confirm  that  following  receipt  of  your  report,  and  upon  further
investigation, I propose the following actions:

1.  White Lining

I  have  now  studied  photographs  of  the  white  lining  which  were  taken  by  one  of  my
engineers shortly after the accident took place.  As you can see from the photograph below,
the lining itself is clearly legible which is supported by his overall assessment of the general
condition (also included for completeness)

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15th March 2019

FEATURE

COHDITIOH

ROAD SURFACE

Asphalt

Generally satisfactory apart
from some minor cracking in
the road surface as can be
seen In the photographs In
Appendix B

DRAINAGE

Good

No visible defects

STREET LIGHTING

System of street lights
present

ROAD MARKINGS

Acceptable condition

SIGNING

Good

CONTAINMENT
(barriers etc.)

Good

The accident took place at
11.45 so street lighting
would not have been in
operation.

All road markings visible
with some signs of wear,
which would be expected on
a heavily trafficked road
such as this

AU existing signing is in an
acceptable condition

Steel crash barriers are
provided at the back of the
footway and these appear
to be In good condition

I will therefore continue to inspect the lining on a regular basis and renew as required.

2.  Overall layout of roundabout and dual entry exits

Calderdale MBC carry out accident studies on all fatal accidents as a matter of course, we
are also notified of all other personal injury accidents.  Although the roundabout layout and
exit lane detail is not uncommon, in light of your concerns I will commission a study of any
similar accidents so that any remediation can be applied as necessary.

Yours sincerely

Assistant Director -  Strategic Infrastructure

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