The safety of road users (both motorised and non-motorised) is a key global and national target and as such is covered by law. In the UK:

• Highway Authorities have responsibilities and statutory duties for highway maintenance and road safety. They are also subject to the civil law of negligence or criminal offences following a fatal road traffic collision;
• Section 39 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act places a statutory road safety duty on Local Authorities to prevent collisions on new roads;
• Section 41 of the 1980 Highways Act places a duty on local authorities to maintain the highway;
• The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 was introduced to allow corporate bodies (i.e. highway authorities) to be more easily prosecuted for Corporate Manslaughter. The Highway Authority can be liable if a person is killed as a result of senior management failure that falls below what could be reasonably expected;
• The Equalities Act 2010 includes for provision to be made for persons with disability to use the highway as non-motorised users; and
• For Highway Improvements on the Motorway & Trunk Road network it is mandatory to undertake Road Safety Audits in accordance with the HA Standard GG119.

Portland Highway Consultants Ltd are available to provide consultancy services to local Highway Authorities across our range of specialist areas.