Aiming to improve safety on the road infrastructure across the country, National Highways’ (NH) launched in 2018 the “Home Safe and Well” programme. To realise this ambition, it had to review the national network to identify risk sections and interventions that could drive significant safety improvements. These measures would also help raise the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) rating of the UK’s main roads to three-star or better – one-star being the most dangerous and five-star the safest.

With a focus on analysing potential road upgrades to reduce traffic injuries, NH appointed Arup as Technical Partner to develop and pilot a road safety scheme on the A595 corridor – a 30-km mostly single carriageway of rural and urban roads with varying traffic flows. We carried out a route assessment and appraised different safety enhancement interventions that would have an immediate impact on safety. The study also included costs and expected decrease in incidents once applied, providing all details to inform a final decision on the most suitable interventions to help avoid road incidents.

Our study provided NH with a set of minor yet impactful upgrades tailored to the locations where measures were most needed and could have the highest safety benefits. Compared to traditional approaches, our method is approximately half the cost while reducing the time needed to carry out similar assessments. By renewing existing assets instead of creating new one, the programme also supports the reduction of carbon in the transport sector. Estimated to avoid 18 deaths or serious injuries over the next 20 years, this approach has now been applied in other locations across the country. Its success demonstrates how low-cost interventions can bring social value while creating a more sustainable transport network.

The Route Optimisation study approach developed with our Technical Partner has been an excellent example of a collaborative and innovative approach to improve safety on the strategic road network.

Daniel Healey

Senior Strategic Studies Development Manager, National Highways

Improving the road network to get people home safe

To help NH improve road safety in the A595 corridor, we developed and piloted a road safety scheme in this section located between Calder Bridge and the A66 Bridgefoot Roundabout. The programme consisted on a route assessment to identify the most dangerous locations followed by a list of recommended interventions based on their potential safety benefits. The study also included costs and expected decrease in incidents of these measures, providing all details to inform a final decision on the most suitable works. 

Using iRAP’s data and information obtained in a workshop with NH, we examined route issues, reviewed measures, and identified locations where we could increase road safety. To provide tailored road improvements, we divided the route into 15 sections, which allowed us to locate the areas where measures were most needed. Our analysis favoured small works within the highway boundary like barrier interventions, centreline markings, and pedestrian crossing and junction upgrades. The iRAP model estimates that these enhancements would help to avoid 18 deaths or serious injuries over the next 20 years. 

Compared to traditional studies and major projects, our approach is approximately half the cost while keeping construction expenses low by focusing on minor yet impactful interventions. It also allows teams to deliver early-stage studies faster and more efficiently, moving from development to business case within five months. By providing interventions that can be delivered in less time and at a lower cost, we are encouraging NH to invest in additional road safety upgrades across the country. 

Making an impact across the country

Following the success of the pilot, we were engaged to apply our method on 17 additional corridors including the Midlands, South East, the East, Yorkshire North East and South West. Representing approximately 300 miles, a similar approach has already been finalised and applied on nine of them, contributing to an 11 % average reduction in fatal and serious injuries. 

Although safety was the primary goal, the impact on the environment was also front of mind when carrying out the project. Encouraging circular economy practices to minimise the construction of new assets, our method supports the reduction of carbon in the transport sector by increasing the lifetime of current road systems. It also promotes the implementation of active travel infrastructure, improving health by encouraging physical activity while achieving better integration between different transport modes.

Our strategy demonstrates how low-cost interventions can drive important safety benefits by enhancing current assets rather than opting for newbuild options. Proving that transport improvements can be compatible with environmental outcomes, this method supports targeted enhancements, making the most of existing aging infrastructure. Once delivered, the remaining studies will help further decrease the risk of collisions across the country, bringing social value to surrounding communities while minimising the impact on the environment and creating a more sustainable transport network.

The programme supports the reduction of carbon in the transport sector and demonstrates how low-cost interventions can drive important safety benefits. Images © National Highways