Zahid Ahmed
3 Mar 2021 · Coroner Tom Stoate · Bedfordshire and Luton
This report repeats 2 earlier warnings, and was raised again 3 times later. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. absence of hard shoulder
“absence of a hard shoulder contributed to the collision. Had the [deceased's] vehicle been able to stop in a location other that a live lane, the offending HGV would not have driven into the back of it”
Linked reports
Closely relatedConfidence 0.85 · high
Earlier report
“there is a 2.5 mile gap in the emergency refuge areas at this point; b) this section of the M6 is elevated and as such there is no land along the edge of the motorway”
This report
“absence of a hard shoulder contributed to the collision. Had the [deceased's] vehicle been able to stop in a location other that a live lane, the offending HGV would not have driven into the back of it”
Closely relatedConfidence 0.86 · high
Earlier report
“the stretch of motorway in question was raised with a significant drop next to the hard shoulder”
This report
“absence of a hard shoulder contributed to the collision. Had the [deceased's] vehicle been able to stop in a location other that a live lane”
Identical hazardConfidence 0.92 · high
This report
“absence of a hard shoulder contributed to the collision. Had the [deceased's] vehicle been able to stop in a location other that a live lane”
Later report
“the collision would not have occurred if the broken down Land Rover had been able to pull out of the running lane into a refuge or onto a traditional hard shoulder”
Identical hazardConfidence 0.92 · high
This report
“absence of a hard shoulder contributed to the collision. Had the [deceased's] vehicle been able to stop in a location other that a live lane, the offending HGV would not have driven into the back of it”
Later report
“THERE WAS NOWHERE FOR THE DRIVER OF THE FIRST VEHICLE TO PARK SAFELY e.g.. ON A HARD SHOULDER.”
Closely relatedConfidence 0.90 · high
This report
“absence of a hard shoulder contributed to the collision. Had the [deceased's] vehicle been able to stop in a location other that a live lane, the offending HGV would not have driven into the back of it”
Later report
“It was accepted at inquest that Mr [name redacted] was on an all lanes open motorway. This type of motorway has all lanes open for vehicles to use, and areas for vehicles to stop every 1.6 miles, but not areas in between.”
Responses
2021-0062-Response-from-Highways-England-Redacted.pdf ↗· National Highways