Douglas Promenade Safety Audits

Summary

A request was made for copies of two safety audits regarding the Douglas Promenade design, and the Department of Infrastructure disclosed the full Stage 1 Road Safety Audit report conducted by TMS Consultancy.

Key Facts

• The Stage 1 Road Safety Audit was carried out on 21 November 2017 by TMS Consultancy on behalf of the Isle of Man Government.
• The audit team visited the site on 16 November 2017 between 13:00 and 16:45 under sunny and dry conditions.
• The scheme involves public realm improvements including two roundel-style junctions and the relocation of the horse-drawn tram.
• Key safety concerns identified included potential pedestrian collisions due to obstructed visibility at crossings and risks associated with staggered barriers.
• Recommendations included marking visibility splays, increasing crossing widths, and reviewing street lighting upgrades.

Data Disclosed

• 21st of November 2017
• 16th of November 2017
• 13:00
• 16:45pm
• 1.5m
• TMS reference no: 13947
• HD 19/15
• 55 pages
• 3 documents

Original Request

On 3 February 2022, Manx Radio broadcast part of a Tynwald session in which Tim Crookall stated that during the promenade design two safety audits were carried out. I would like copies of both of those documents. Thanks

Data Tables (94)

Full Response Text

Unit 1b, Sovereign Court 2, University of Warwick Science Park,
Sir William Lyons Road, Coventry CV4 7EZ

Tel: +44 (0)24 7669 0900 Fax: +44 (0)24 7669 0274 Email: info@tmsconsultancy.co.uk Web: www.tmsconsultancy.co.uk

Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

on behalf of Isle of Man Government

TMS reference no: 13947

Client: Isle of Man Government Scheme: Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

T:\Projects Current#3100\03186 Douglas Quality Audit\Report\FINAL\Douglas Promenade Isle of Man - RSA1v3 FINAL.docx 1 Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

1. Introduction

1.1 This report describes a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit carried out at Douglas Promenade, on behalf of Isle of Man Government. The audit was carried out on the 21st of November 2017 in the offices of TMS Consultancy.

1.2 The audit team members were as follows:-

Paul Martin - BSc, CEng, MCIHT, AMICE, FSoRSA Highways England Approved RSA Certificate of Competency
Senior Road Safety Consultant, TMS Consultancy

Robert Cyples - BSc (Hons), MIHE, MCIHT, MSoRSA Highways England Approved RSA Certificate of Competency
Senior Road Safety Consultant, TMS Consultancy

1.3 The audit comprised an examination of the documents listed in Appendix A. The site was visited by the Audit Team on the 16th of November 2017 between 13:00 and 16:45pm. The weather was sunny and dry. Traffic flows were moderate. Pedestrian and cycle flows were low to moderate.

1.4 The terms of reference of the audit are as described in HD 19/15. The team has examined and reported only on the road safety implications of the scheme as presented and has not examined or verified the compliance of the design to any other criteria.

1.5 All of the problems described in this report are considered by the audit team to require action in order to improve the safety of the scheme and minimise accident occurrence. The locations of specific problems are referenced on the plan in Appendix B.

1.6 The scheme consists of a public realm improvement along the promenade between the Sea Terminal and Esplanade in Douglas. The scheme includes introducing two roundel style junctions, the relocation of the existing horse drawn tram from the centre of the carriageway towards the southern footway and numerous new controlled and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.

Client: Isle of Man Government Scheme: Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

T:\Projects Current#3100\03186 Douglas Quality Audit\Report\FINAL\Douglas Promenade Isle of Man - RSA1v3 FINAL.docx 2 2. Items resulting from this Stage 1 Audit

2.1 PROBLEM

Location – General; pedestrian crossings

Summary: Potential risk of pedestrian collisions

Several of the pedestrian crossings are adjacent to walls, parking spaces or other street furniture which could obstruct inter-visibility between pedestrians waiting to and approaching trams or road users. This could increase the risk of pedestrians, especially those pushing wheelchairs or prams who will be well back from the edge of the crossings stepping out into the path of approaching trams.

RECOMMENDATION

Visibility splays should be marked for each crossing point and be free from obstruction with a minimum ‘x’ distance of 1.5m and ‘y’ distance suitable for the speed and stopping distance of the road user/trams. This may necessitate removing parking spaces, relocating items of street furniture or locally adjusting the height of walls as part of the detailed design.

2.2 PROBLEM

Location – General; pedestrian crossings of tram tracks with staggered barriers

Summary: Potential risk of pedestrian collisions

The proposed staggered barriers will, at times of heavy pedestrian flows, create an obstruction for pedestrians. Pedestrians could have to wait on the tram tracks for an opportunity to pass through the barriers. This will be especially problematic for the mobility impaired and pedestrians with pushchairs.

RECOMMENDATION

The widths of the crossings should be increased to increase the capacity of the crossings.

Client: Isle of Man Government Scheme: Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

T:\Projects Current#3100\03186 Douglas Quality Audit\Report\FINAL\Douglas Promenade Isle of Man - RSA1v3 FINAL.docx 3 2.3 PROBLEM

Location – General; Street Lighting

Summary: Darkness related collisions

The existing street lighting is all near sided lighting and may not sufficiently illuminate the proposed layout, including any central refuge pedestrian crossing points. This could increase the risk of darkness related collisions occurring.

RECOMMENDATION

The street lighting should be reviewed and upgraded as necessary as part of the detailed design.

2.4 PROBLEM

Location – General; Echelon Parking

Summary: Potential obstruction to pedestrians

The proposed and existing echelon parking along the promenade does not have a road marking for the rear of the bays adjacent to the footways. The angles of the echelon parking are such that should a user back all the way up to the kerb line, the vehicles are likely to significantly overhang and restrict the footways. This could force wheelchair users or pedestrians with pushchairs into the carriageway to avoid the obstruction, leading to potential collisions with other road users or trip and falls negotiating full height kerbs.

RECOMMENDATION

Measures should be provided at detailed design to prevent or discourage road users from backing all the way across the footway and obstructing its use.

Client: Isle of Man Government Scheme: Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

T:\Projects Current#3100\03186 Douglas Quality Audit\Report\FINAL\Douglas Promenade Isle of Man - RSA1v3 FINAL.docx 4 2.5 PROBLEM

Location – General; Cyclists

Summary: Risk of collisions involving cyclists

The existing sea front area is shared use footway/cycleway although no details of cycling strategy or provision for cyclists have been indicated on the drawings to allow cyclists to regularly cross the carriageway to enter or exit the shared space and to travel in both directions. Cyclists could also be vulnerable to collisions with other road users, particularly at the roundabout style junctions where cyclists make up a high proportion of collisions.

Additionally, the proposed southbound exit taper from carriageway to Walkway is at 90 degrees and too abrupt for cyclists to follow. This may lead to loss of control collisions.

RECOMMENDATION Consider the cycling strategy throughout the scheme and for both directions, identifying and providing appropriate facilities along likely cycle desire lines during the subsequent stages of the design. The 90 degree southbound exit taper should be suitably relaxed to enable cyclists to exit the carriageway at a suitable angle.

2.6 PROBLEM

Location – General; Vehicular accesses, loading bays and disabled parking bays

Summary: Potential trip hazard to pedestrians

There are a number of traditional style loading bays, dedicated disabled parking bays and a vehicle access at the TT Cafe along the scheme that are proposed within areas where the footway width is restricted. This design unnecessarily breaks up the continuity of the footway and could increase the risk of pedestrians, especially the mobility and visually impaired tripping and falling on high kerbs.

RECOMMENDATION Where practical the loading bays and dedicated disabled bays should be designed as part of the footway, and the vehicle access as a crossover type junction so that the space can be better utilised by pedestrians when not in use and also allow easier access of the bays.

Client: Isle of Man Government Scheme: Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

T:\Projects Current#3100\03186 Douglas Quality Audit\Report\FINAL\Douglas Promenade Isle of Man - RSA1v3 FINAL.docx 5 2.7 PROBLEM

Location – General; bus stops and loading bays

Summary: Increased risk of side swipe type collisions

There are a number of bus stops and loading bay laybys along the scheme that protrude into the carriageway. This reduction in the available through-traffic carriageway width is inconsistent along the scheme. Some road users having passed some instances of stationary buses or loading vehicles may mistakenly evaluate the available carriageway width in the reduced width areas. This could increase the risk of side swipe type collisions occurring.

RECOMMENDATION

Where practical the bus stops and loading bays should be consistent along the scheme.

2.8 PROBLEM

Location – General; pedestrian courtesy crossings

Summary: Increased risk of pedestrian collisions

The design of the pedestrian courtesy crossings alternates between a zebra style crossing with belisha beacons and striped road markings to a more simple style which extends the footway surface across the carriageway. Whilst the zebra style layouts may give the impression to other road users the pedestrian has priority, the other style of crossing may not to the road user, but to a pedestrian it may. This could lead to pedestrians inadvertently stepping out into the path of road users leading to collisions.

RECOMMENDATION

A consistent form of courtesy crossing should be provided throughout the scheme.

Client: Isle of Man Government Scheme: Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

T:\Projects Current#3100\03186 Douglas Quality Audit\Report\FINAL\Douglas Promenade Isle of Man - RSA1v3 FINAL.docx 6 2.9 PROBLEM

Location – Broadway and Promenade opposite Castle Mona Avenue and Victoria Street

Summary: Risk of increased severity collisions

The proposed central hatching road markings within the carriageway will give greater emphasis to motorised road users which could lead to increased vehicle speeds on entry to the scheme and higher severity injuries should a collision occur.

RECOMMENDATION

The central hatching road markings should be removed altogether, or replaced with a contrasting colour surface to break up the visual width of the carriageway surface resulting in reducing vehicle speeds.

2.10 PROBLEM

Location – Southern end of scheme opposite Peveril Square

Summary: Increased risk of pedestrian collisions

There appears to be a high probability of heavy pedestrian demand towards the southern end of the scheme opposite Peveril Square where there are two back to back bus stops and the terminal tram line stop. The footway width in this area is confined by position and the length of double tram lines. This could lead to pedestrians inadvertently stepping onto the tram tracks or into the carriageway at busy times. This could lead to an increased risk of pedestrian collisions.

RECOMMENDATION

Where practical the length of the double tram lines should be reduced and the position of the tram lines adjusted so as not to create pinch points within the footway.

Client: Isle of Man Government Scheme: Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

T:\Projects Current#3100\03186 Douglas Quality Audit\Report\FINAL\Douglas Promenade Isle of Man - RSA1v3 FINAL.docx 7 2.11 PROBLEM

Location – Southern end of Marine Gardens

Summary: Increased risk of pedestrian collisions

There is an existing gap in the Marine Gardens wall near its southern end which does not feature a proposed pedestrian crossing point. Pedestrians may enter or exit the gardens in this area and potentially step out into the path of approaching tram if sufficient visibility is not provided. Additionally, pedestrians may exit the gardens and unintentionally loiter on the tracks obstructing the trams leading to a collision.

RECOMMENDATION

The gap in the wall should be closed or a formal crossing point provided.

2.12 PROBLEM

Location – Footway opposite Sefton Hotel

Summary: Increased risk of pedestrian collisions

There is a wide expanse of public realm space made available directly outside the Sefton Hotel. However, pedestrians crossing the carriageway from this area will cross to a narrow confined footway on the coastal side of the road. This could lead to pedestrians inadvertently stepping onto the tram tracks or into the carriageway at busy times. This could lead to an increased risk of pedestrian collisions.

RECOMMENDATION

The available footway width on the coastal side of the road should be locally increased to provide a more consistent width pedestrian route across the likely desire line to the Promenade Walkway.

Client: Isle of Man Government Scheme: Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

T:\Projects Current#3100\03186 Douglas Quality Audit\Report\FINAL\Douglas Promenade Isle of Man - RSA1v3 FINAL.docx 8 2.13 PROBLEM

Location – Broadway and Church Road Roundels

Summary: Possible risk of collisions

It has not been possible to accurately measure entry path curvature (EPC) on the approaches to the Broadway and Church Road roundel junctions. EPC is one of the most important determinants of safety at roundabouts. Relaxed EPC (>100m), which appears to be the case in both proposed roundel junctions can increase the risk of high speed entry and failure to give-way type accidents. Severe EPC (70m) can lead to loss of control type accidents on entries, especially involving high sided vehicles.

RECOMMENDATION

The entry path curvature on all approaches should be checked to ensure it falls within the range 70m to 100m.

2.14 PROBLEM

Location – Castle Mona Ave

Summary: Trip hazard for pedestrians

There is a proposed pedestrian crossing arrangement across an existing parking area within Castle Mona Ave. During times when the parking spaces are occupied, vehicles within these spaces will create an obstruction of the crossing for pedestrians. This may lead to pedestrians having to negotiate full height kerbs leading to trip and falls.

RECOMMENDATION

It should be ensured a clear route is provided for pedestrians free from any likely obstruction.

Client: Isle of Man Government Scheme: Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man

Road Safety Audit Stage 1

T:\Projects Current#3100\03186 Douglas Quality Audit\Report\FINAL\Douglas Promenade Isle of Man - RSA1v3 FINAL.docx 9 2.15 PROBLEM

Location – Tram / carriageway signalised crossover

Summary: Risk of failure to give way type collisions

The proposed arrangement for road use

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