95% of the 38 local authorities surveyed were found to have accumulated the same amount of salt as they did last winter – around 1.4 million tonnes – despite the cost of salt increasing by 10% due to inflation. More than half of councils have pledged to share their salt reserves with neighbouring areas this year, too.

The survey reported that, on average, each local area had access to eight gritting lorries, as well as quad bikes, tractors, and snow blowers to prepare for inclement weather. Almost 80% of councils are also utilising GPS systems to spread salt more efficiently this year, and two-thirds have equipped street cleaners with salt to use on pavements.

Cllr David Renard, an LGA transport spokesperson, commented: “As temperatures start to plummet, councils are ready to work around the clock to grit roads and pavements to make sure that people are kept safe and local communities can get out and about.

“Councils have stockpiled millions of tonnes of salt and are using new and innovative technologies where they can to ensure those areas that are most treacherous are kept clear and safe for use.

“During these cold spells, it is the elderly or those who have a respiratory disease who are more at risk of ill health and in need of more support. As some people may choose to limit their heating use due to the impact of rising energy bills, it is all the more important that people check up on those that may need more help. It could help save lives.”

Nonetheless, preparing for the winter has not come without challenges for local authorities. In addition to rising costs, councils face a deficit of HGV drivers this year; 63% reported difficulties in recruiting and retaining drivers.

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Lorry drivers are supposed to use specialist sat navs, which provide route guidance that takes into consideration the size of the vehicle before plotting the navigation. These specialist guides plot a course that is fit for the lorry, reviewing bridge heights, narrow roads and country lanes unsuitable for large vehicles. 

Despite the availability of this technology, the LGA has warned that many HGV drivers continue to damage bridges, block small streets, get stuck in villages and crash into bridges; all because they have been poorly guided by a standard car sat nav. 

The LGA is calling on the Goverment to make changes to its forthcoming Transport Bill. They propose a change in the law to compel all HGV drivers to use specialist route guidance to avoid major disruption on local roads. 

The LGA transport spokesperson, Cllr David Renard, commented on the issue at hand: “The spate of accidents we continue to see involving lorries blocking streets, damaging local areas and crashing into bridges on an all too regular basis are causing major disruption to local communities.

“There are more lorry journeys than ever, risking more incidents. HGV mileage grew by nearly 9% over the last year and is back above pre-pandemic levels.

“Councils already work with freight and haulage companies to ensure that lorries use the most suitable routes and roads. However, a minority of drivers continue to follow sat nav systems that take them down routes that are totally inappropriate for the weight and height of their vehicle.

“By making it mandatory for anyone operating an HGV to use a specialist satnav device, the Government can help to reduce the risk of accidents and keep our roads moving.” 

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Located under the M5 at Oldbury, it is considered the UK’s largest roadside water runoff filtration system. The set-up will capture debris and pollutants that exist in the runoff water from the M5 carriageway, meaning that water fed back into the watercourse will be cleaner.

Using 10 filters to cleanse collected rainfall, the water from the M5 will be discharged into the canal. This should help to keep the waterways cleaner and promote better water quality, with the hope of aiding wildlife in the area.

Colin Jackson, project manager at National Highways, said: “This new drainage system is a real boost to the local canal network that runs underneath the M5 Oldbury viaduct. We know that the local habitat is a crucial part of the landscape at Oldbury and we’re confident this new system will play a significant role in helping biodiversity.

“The drainage has a special filter installed inside the pipework which is designed to capture debris and pollutants before entering the water network which can then simply be removed by specialists at regular intervals.”

Though the system took many months to complete, it didn’t impact road users on the motorway or nearby local roads during its development. Specialist equipment was used to dig under the M5 to install the pipework.

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The ‘Travel Like You Know Them’ campaign draws attention to the recent changes in the Highway Code designed to increase the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

The campaign encourages all road users, but particularly motorists, to take responsibility and undertake positive behaviours while on the road; giving space to and protecting those that are at a higher risk.

Launched on the 12th of July, the promotion follows the first phase of the THINK! campaign which began after the Highway Code’s new hierarchy of road users was implemented. According to a recent survey, 87% of people were aware of the changes.

Baroness Vere, Minister for Roads, Buses and Places, said: “People tend to see cycles, lorries and cars on the roads rather than thinking of the person using them – but it could be your family member, friend or colleague.

“We have some of the safest roads in the world but I am determined to make them even safer, particularly as more people choose to walk, cycle and ride for their journeys. This campaign encourages everyone to see the person behind the wheel or handlebars, to build more understanding of others on the road, and help keep everyone safe.”

The recent changes to the Highway Code include clarifying cycle positioning, emphasising the priority at junctions for pedestrians and cyclists, guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking, and on opening car doors.”

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A new project will investigate the potential benefits of using digital technology on local roads in England. The Digital Roads for Local Roads project will assess the needs and opportunities of local roads, seeking to provide a future vision for widespread digitalisation.

To understand the benefits of digital roads for local areas, the initiative will engage with stakeholders through surveys, workshops and interviews to gather a broad spectrum of opinions from local authorities, professional bodies, academia, consultants and contractors.

The proposed ‘digital roads’ will harness modern technology to change the way in which our roads are designed, managed and used. The new roads will be digitally designed and constructed using an automated machine process – improving efficiency and enhancing safety. 

Once operational, data from these roads will be gathered with sensors before being digitally transmitted to analysts. This will allow them to better predict when roads will require repairs, adjustments or closure with more accurate and up-to-date information. 

Sensors will quickly spot if any maintenance is required, meaning less build-up of damage and easier repairs. Robotic equipment will be deployed for these repairs, completing tasks much faster, using safer techniques and reducing disruption for drivers. 

For example, a new automated system called Aqua Prep will work cleaning concrete structures. The intelligent technology will use half the amount of water to complete the same task as humans, making a laborious task more efficient. 

The proposed digital roads will provide immediate and accurate information on all connected roads, meaning faster reaction times to accidents. Not only will this improve road safety, but will also allow better diversion routes reducing journey disruptions. 

Not to mention, road users will be able to plan ahead before a journey, accessing real-time information about their route online. The Digital Roads for Local Roads project said that while strategic road authorities have worked on digital solutions for years, less work has been done on the local network.

President of ADEPT (Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport) Mark Kemp commented: “This is an exciting project that will allow local authorities and central government to work together harnessing the power of technology on our roads. The project will look at aspects around the meaning of digital roads in the context of a local authority road network, and the benefits and opportunities so that local highway authorities can start to plot their roadmap towards a digital road network.” 

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Oil and gas multinational, Shell, has recently launched a new type of carbon-reducing bitumen that incorporates an innovative bio-component binder. Bitumen CarbonSink locks carbon into asphalt and bitumen, turning the road into technical carbon sinks. 

Set on more than just reducing carbon emissions, Shell has designed the Bitumen CarbonSink to both remove and store locked carbon. For every kilometre of road surface, the Bitumen CarbonSink could remove an astonishing 6 tonnes of CO2 (based on a model single surface layer, 50mm deep, 3.5m wide, 5% binder content). 

To put this performance into perspective, using biogenic materials in asphalt on the whole UK road network could save as much carbon as is emitted by 50,000 homes in an entire year.

Even at the end of the road’s life, most of the carbon collected from the binders will remain locked in: 96% of reclaimed asphalt pavement is recycled or re-used in other pavements, 76% is re-used in the manufacture of new asphalt mixes and a further 20% is recycled in unbound road layers. 

The new bitumen technology has already been launched in the UK by Aggregate Industries to create its ‘SuperLow-Carbon’ asphalt. Victoria Smith, Managing Director at Aggregate Industries commented: 

“Having been in the industry for many years now, change seems to have been very slow and gradual. This is a big leap in technology that is giving us a real reduction in carbon.”

“Superlow-Carbon isn’t just for the major road network. This product can be used anywhere from new motorways, new retail parks, sports pitches or your driveway.”

Shell’s new CarbonSink bitumen is currently being launched in multiple markets to be used at scale across the global road network.

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The new rules are designed to encourage more pupils and parents to walk or cycle to Hotspur Primary School in Heaton. The pilot scheme will run for 18 months starting from the 13th of June, with the roads being closed between 8 – 9:30 am and 2 – 4 pm.

The School Streets scheme hopes to create more pedestrian and cycling zones around the school. However, vehicle access will still be available for local residents, school staff, emergency services and blue badge holders. The public will be able to offer feedback during the first six months of the trial, and if it’s successful, other schools could follow.

Kevin McVittie, headteacher at Hotspur Primary School, said: “The roads around [the school] can become very congested at the beginning and end of the day, so we really welcome the introduction of the School Streets scheme, as it means it will be much safer for our children and much better for local residents.

“The scheme also builds on the messages about healthy living that we give to children in school by further encouraging walking, cycling or scooting to school.”

Similar schemes were introduced in different areas of the UK earlier in the year. In January, two schools in Milton Keynes trialled closing nearby streets for a six month period, in a bid to improve safety and air quality by discouraging car journeys and encouraging walking or cycling.

Meanwhile, other schools are taking a different approach to combat dangerous driving practices. Cartoon cut-outs were placed outside the gates of a school in Plymouth to try and discourage drivers from illegally parking too close to the entrance.

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It is currently illegal to use e-scooters on public roads in England unless they are part of an official rental trial. Despite this, use has skyrocketed in recent months, with 1 million private e-scooters imported to the UK since 2018 and approximately 750,000 driven on public highways.

E-scooters are widely available for purchase and sold at major retailers like Argos and Currys, with disclaimers against their illegal road use routinely ignored. Most private e-scooters are limited to 19mph, although some can reach up to double this speed.

In a public statement released in May 2022, a government spokeswoman commented: “While riding a privately owned e-scooter on public land is currently illegal, we are considering how best to design future regulations and our Transport Bill will help us to take the steps we need to make e-scooters safer and support innovation.”

Transport Minister Grant Shapps previously told MPs that he wanted to crack down on retailers, making it illegal to sell e-scooters which don’t meet regulatory standards. Shapps explained: “The Government would then be able to stipulate that all e-scooters sold met certain standards concerning speed, power and lights, among other things.” 

The pledge to revise private e-scooter use has sparked nationwide debate, with many road users declaring them an unsafe addition. 

A Freedom of Information request to NHS Ambulance Trusts also highlighted that e-scooter incidents are on the rise. It revealed that 82% more ambulances were called to assist e-scooter-related accidents in 2021 than in 2019. In total, the NHS treated 713 patients that had been involved in such accidents last year.

However, these account for just a small minority of total road casualties, suggesting their use may not pose the most significant risk to road users.

Lorna Stevenson, an e-scooter researcher at the University of Westminster, commented: “The use of illegal e-scooters is demonstrating a clear unmet transport need. People are using them who won’t know they’re illegal, but others who do, and still see it as worth the risk.

“The question is, what is the rest of the transport system not providing to these people? Pretty much everyone agrees that the current situation is bad. The fact that it’s legal to walk into a shop and buy an e-scooter, but not to ride it on the road, is a mess for all concerned.” 

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These findings are drawn from a major survey conducted by the Department for Transport (DfT) which asked 55% of England’s highway authorities about the condition of their traffic light signals. 

Roughly half of those questioned reported a maintenance backlog of more than £1m. This means, across England’s 150 authorities, costs are likely to total in excess of £80m. 

In addition to maintenance expenses, repairing faulty signals takes up a significant amount of the annual budget; 40% of local authorities reported an average spend of £100,000 per year. 

Acknowledging these statistics, TTF has called for traffic signalling to be upgraded nationwide. Installing newer, more reliable equipment will likely be more cost-effective than tackling mounting maintenance and repair costs. 

The survey found that around one-third of authorities have no, or very few, of the latest SCOOT or MOVA adaptively controlled signals. Additionally, 80% of highways authorities are yet to install wireless or mobile communications advances. 

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC and TTF chairman, said: “there is real potential to make an immediate difference to traffic and the safety of active travel by upgrading signalling.”   

“The more we look into the real-world state of our traffic signals the more potential we are finding for relatively inexpensive but important improvements – including repairs, refurbishment or simply retuning systems – to deliver benefits for traffic flow generally and for promoting active travel.” 

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At the Road Surface Treatments Association’s annual conference this month, industry experts noted that local councils are falling short where reducing carbon emissions is concerned. 

Members of the conference identified that while councils have been testing innovative approaches with trials, many have yet to commit to enduring plans to tackle the carbon crisis.

Ross Bullerwell, managing director at North Yorkshire (NY) Highways, said: “Many authorities have a strategy, but are not necessarily doing their part. In North Yorkshire, we’ve pushed the council to come up with a five-year plan, which is around holding projects to account for what they are delivering”. 

He added: “We have to make sure that as part of the strategy, as part of our design, as part of declaring the carbon emergency, we must have year-on-year plans that deliver something. Otherwise, in five years, we’ll still be doing a little trial.” 

Transitioning from trials to long-term strategies will require hard work and a change in prevailing attitudes. Sean Rooney, head of highway maintenance at Oxfordshire County Council revealed that trials are often used to “get around procurement”, and that the industry must work together to “change the attitude of people” and enable future progress. 

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