Additional road traffic issues on the B1281, Blackhall Colliery to Castle Eden

Earlier this week, following another traffic accident on the B1281, we contacted officers in the county council's highways section, and also the traffic management officer at Durham police, to seek advice on which measures might be available to prevent incidents of this nature recurring (please see the post on this site dated Friday 5 July 2019 for the most recent reference to this matter).

The response received from the highways office is reproduced below in full:

Hello Rob, Thank you for your email highlighting the concerns of your constituents about the B1281 past Hardwicke Hall Hotel.

Speed Limit and Road Safety Measures

In relation to setting speed limits there is guidance laid down by the Department for Transport (DfT) which the Council follows and is aimed at trying to encourage Highway Authorities to set speed limits across the country which are consistent and self-evident in an attempt to create speed limits which are credible.  In the case of rural roads where there is little in the way of frontage development it is not unexpected that the speed limit is set as a derestricted one.  While there are occasions on a route where achieving the posted speed limit is not physically possible, or would create potential safety concerns, it has to be remembered that speed limits are not there to be achieved or beat but are there as a maximum limit to travel at.  Any responsible driver should still be driving at an appropriate speed for the prevailing circumstances and where roads do become narrow or have bends then a responsible driver should reduce their speed and drive according to the circumstances.  While I fully appreciate that the incidents along this road have been of significant concern to your constituents, which is understandable, reduced speed limits are not always the answer to an accident problem and indeed, guidance on setting speed limits indicates that speed limits should not be used to deal with an accident problem in isolation.

This leads onto what other measures could be provided where hazards exist.  Typically, the use of appropriate road signage can go some way to raising driver awareness of a hazard and thus assist in reducing the possibility of an accident occurring.  In this case I have reviewed the route between the end of the 40mph speed limit at Castle Eden and the A1086 junction at Blackhall Rocks and note that there is already a significant level of signage provided as indicated below:

Throughout the length of road there are road markings in the form of a hazard centre line and where a kerb is absent, an edge of carriageway line is provided.

From Castle Eden heading east

• Double bend warning sign on yellow background followed by hazard bollards and a chevron sign on the outside of the right hand bend which are immediately followed by hazard bollards on the outside of the left hand bend.
• SLOW marking then hazard bollards and single chevron signs on the left hand bend at the access to Grove Kennels.
• Farm traffic warning sign prior to the Hesleden (Gary Ave) junction
• Hazard bollards past the Hesleden junction followed by 2 single chevron signs for the right hand bend
• SLOW marking and Double Bend (for 700yds) warning sign on yellow backing prior to the next left hand bend
• SLOW marking then 2 single chevron signs on the outside of the left hand bend
• 2 SLOW markings on the right hand curve prior to the High Hesleden junction
• Immediately after junction on left hand ben is a chevron on yellow backing with hazard bollards on the outside of the bend. 
• The hazard bollards continue to the next left hand bend with a SLOW marking between with a chevron on yellow backing
• Followed by hazard bollards and 2 single chevron signs on outside of the right hand bend
• Just prior to the Hardwick Hall access there are Bend warning signs on yellow backgrounds provided on both sides of the road – a horse warning sign is provided beneath the left hand sign.
• SLOW marking is provided before the Belle Vue property and crest in the road
• SLOW marking provided after the Hardwick Hall access and 2 single chevron signs with hazard bollards on the outside of the right hand bend
• Junction warning sign for and prior to the Hesleden Road junction
• Bend warning sign and SLOW marking after the Kenber Drive junction for the following left hand bend
• 4 Chevrons on yellow backing and vehicle restraint system (barrier) painted black & white on left hand bend before Blackhall Rocks A1086 junction

From Blackhall Rocks heading west

• Chevron on yellow backing and vehicle restraint system (barrier) painted black & white on right hand bend after Blackhall Rocks A1086 junction
• Junction warning sign prior to the Kenber Drive junction
• Bend warning signs on yellow backing provided both sides with a SLOW marking prior to the crest before the bend next to the Hardwick Hall access
• SLOW marking then hazard bollards and chevron sign with yellow backing on the outside of the left hand bend
• Near the end of the long straight after Hardwick Hall there are 2 Double Bend (for 700yds) signs on yellow backing, one each side of the road and a SLOW marking
• Farm traffic warning sign and SLOW marking prior to the left hand bend
• Hazard bollards and 2 single chevron signs on the outside of the left hand bend
• Followed by hazard bollards and a chevron with yellow backing on the outside of the right hand bend with the hazard bollards continuing to the High Hesleden junction
• Immediately at the junction is a chevron on yellow backing with hazard bollards
• 2 single chevrons at the right hand bend
• Hazard bollards and 2 single chevrons are provided on the left hand bend prior to the Heselden (Gary Ave) junction, the bollards continuing past the junction
• 2 SLOW markings before right hand bend
• Hazard bollards and 2 single chevrons on the outside of the right hand bend
• Double bend sign on yellow backing with a SLOW marking before the series of bends just east of Castle Eden
• Hazard bollards and a chevron sign are provided on the outside of the right hand bend immediately followed by hazard bollards on the outside of the left hand bend

Given the measures which have already been put in place to advise and warn motorists of the features along the route unfortunately, it is unlikely that any further changes to this road would have a positive effect on those motorists who continue to drive inappropriately or where criminality is involved.

Traffic Calming

With regard to traffic calming measures, these are not permitted on roads with a speed limit greater than 30mph or ones which do not have street lighting.  Therefore, traffic calming measures cannot be installed on this road.

Recording Accidents

Regarding the recording of accidents, we generally can only refer to ‘personal injury’ accidents as these must be recorded whereas damage only incidents generally are not recorded.  This is because in most cases such incidents are dealt with by an exchange of insurance details.  This data we use is obtained from a database shared with Durham Constabulary and utilises what is known as “Stats 19” information recorded by the Police.  The “Stats 19” data is nationally recognised information required by the DfT and central Government.  This information provides details of ‘personal injury’ accidents as there is no verifiable data available to quantify and qualify ‘damage only’ accidents which are not required to be recorded.  The data provided gives us a lot of information to assist in determining why accidents have occurred whereas such information is not available about damage only incidents.
I hope the above provides details of the current situation and clarifies the issues raised in your email, but I am happy to discuss further if you require.

Kind regards

From the detailed response received from the county council's highways section it is clear that options for reducing accidents along the B1281 are somewhat restricted, either in terms of installing hard traffic-calming measures or additional advisory roadside signage.

Although it is acknowledged that almost all accidents at this particular location have taken place during daylight hours it is felt that street lighting would be helpful in preventing accidents in future, particularly those involving visitors to our area who are unfamiliar with the complex road layout. The campaign to have street lights installed at this location goes on and details to date are included in posts elsewhere on this site.

Officers will continue monitor this stretch of the B1281 but in the meantime we would urge drivers using this road to exercise additional caution, especially now that the darker mornings and evenings are back with us.