A number of organisations are currently gathering important information relating to ‘near misses’ at the roadside, they include the RAC, AA, HA, AVRO and the IVR.

 

A concerted effort is required to collate the information in preparation for a review of breakdown/recovery vehicle conspicuity by the Department for Transport (DfT).  The data will be the basis for the commencement of any review, a point made very clear by both the DfT and the advisory body Transport Research Laboratories (TRL) earlier in the year when both were taken to task on the subject.

 

The HA have indicated strong support for improved recovery vehicle conspicuity, there is a thought that more HATO vehicles could be freed up to perform other duties if they were not required to remain at the scene of an incident until it is cleared.  Additional vehicle conspicuity for recovery vehicles such as rear red flashing lights may reduce danger at the scene from other road users in the same way HATO vehicles currently appear to succeed in doing with their presence and rear red flashing lights.

 

Recovery operators should retain on file all details of near misses; RO in conjunction with AVRO will call on operators sometime in the future to forward the detail, which will be forwarded, to SURVIVE where details from all organisations will be collated ready for presenting to the DfT and TRL.

 

Any information received will be in strictest confidence; no names will be required when the final document is prepared.  The details will only be used for statistical purposes.

 

Guidance on Definition:

 

“A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness or damage – but had the potential to do so.  Only a fortunate break in the chain of events prevented an injury, fatality or damage.” 

 

 

 

19/12/08