Off Road Holding Area Collaboration

In 2015, 107 pedal cyclists and 186 pedestrians were killed or seriously injured on British roads in accidents involving at least one HGV. HGVs were involved in 25% of pedestrian fatalities and almost 60% of cyclist fatalities.

According to the European Transport Safety Council (2001), indications have shown that driver fatigue is a contributing factor in approximately 20% of HGV collisions. There is a strong correlation between stress and fatigue which can often result in negative driver behaviours.

London’s roads are becoming busier, more congested and average speeds are falling. In addition, there are negative outputs experienced from poor construction site management which can result in drivers being sent on loops or to wait long periods outside sites before access is possible. The associated outcomes are increases in air pollution, driver stress and potential conflicts with vulnerable road users.

There are a number of methods to manage construction traffic and reduce the negative impacts on roads, road users and environment. One of them is to take HGVs off the road network. This removes the potential conflicts whilst supplying a resting area for drivers.

For the ‘Braham’ development in East London, Transport for London (TfL) and Keltbray recently collaborated to form an off road holding area within a park during concrete pours. By fencing off an area, vehicles were stored off the road network and managed in a regimented fashion. This helped improve the efficiency of operations during the pours and with no vehicles being observed blocking the highway.