MANAGING RISKS AND LIABILITIES IN THE HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT SECTOR

In recent years, more people have been claiming financial recompense for personal injuries they sustain. Increasingly, the targets of such claims are highway authorities, transport operators and property owners. This paper outlines an area of risk commonly overlooked by practitioners, but which can...

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Main Author: P.E. FORMAN, B.Eng.(Hons.), M.Sc., C.Eng.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2000-01-01
Series:IATSS Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0386111214600261
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author P.E. FORMAN, B.Eng.(Hons.), M.Sc., C.Eng.
author_facet P.E. FORMAN, B.Eng.(Hons.), M.Sc., C.Eng.
author_sort P.E. FORMAN, B.Eng.(Hons.), M.Sc., C.Eng.
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, more people have been claiming financial recompense for personal injuries they sustain. Increasingly, the targets of such claims are highway authorities, transport operators and property owners. This paper outlines an area of risk commonly overlooked by practitioners, but which can be managed effectively and can afford both cost savings and public safety improvements. Inconsistencies between design standards, safety improvement policies and maintenance regimes for the more common vehicle-based infrastructure can all weaken an authority's position when assessing their prior knowledge of potentially hazardous environments. This has direct implications on the likely success of defending public liability claims. With the evolution of intelligent transport systems and more sustainable modes of transport, the liability situation is changing. Tram tracks, cycle routes and even the existence of busy pedestrian routes beside low priority traffic routes, are all testing the robustness of highway authority policies and practices. This paper outlines how the highway factor may be found to be contributory in the event of an accident. The highway authority's and transport operator's duties and powers are then considered, along with examples showing how exposure to personal injury claims can arise. The concept of “prior knowledge” (emanating from a vast array of sources) is introduced, before the importance of internal communication and the management and use of information is considered.
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spelling doaj.art-1fd0a675da81481891cdff9c12fd03602022-12-22T03:09:38ZengElsevierIATSS Research0386-11122000-01-01242283310.1016/S0386-1112(14)60026-1MANAGING RISKS AND LIABILITIES IN THE HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT SECTORP.E. FORMAN, B.Eng.(Hons.), M.Sc., C.Eng.In recent years, more people have been claiming financial recompense for personal injuries they sustain. Increasingly, the targets of such claims are highway authorities, transport operators and property owners. This paper outlines an area of risk commonly overlooked by practitioners, but which can be managed effectively and can afford both cost savings and public safety improvements. Inconsistencies between design standards, safety improvement policies and maintenance regimes for the more common vehicle-based infrastructure can all weaken an authority's position when assessing their prior knowledge of potentially hazardous environments. This has direct implications on the likely success of defending public liability claims. With the evolution of intelligent transport systems and more sustainable modes of transport, the liability situation is changing. Tram tracks, cycle routes and even the existence of busy pedestrian routes beside low priority traffic routes, are all testing the robustness of highway authority policies and practices. This paper outlines how the highway factor may be found to be contributory in the event of an accident. The highway authority's and transport operator's duties and powers are then considered, along with examples showing how exposure to personal injury claims can arise. The concept of “prior knowledge” (emanating from a vast array of sources) is introduced, before the importance of internal communication and the management and use of information is considered.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0386111214600261HighwaysClaims and liabilityHighway authoritiesTransport operatorsAccident investigation
spellingShingle P.E. FORMAN, B.Eng.(Hons.), M.Sc., C.Eng.
MANAGING RISKS AND LIABILITIES IN THE HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT SECTOR
IATSS Research
Highways
Claims and liability
Highway authorities
Transport operators
Accident investigation
title MANAGING RISKS AND LIABILITIES IN THE HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT SECTOR
title_full MANAGING RISKS AND LIABILITIES IN THE HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT SECTOR
title_fullStr MANAGING RISKS AND LIABILITIES IN THE HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT SECTOR
title_full_unstemmed MANAGING RISKS AND LIABILITIES IN THE HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT SECTOR
title_short MANAGING RISKS AND LIABILITIES IN THE HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT SECTOR
title_sort managing risks and liabilities in the highways and transport sector
topic Highways
Claims and liability
Highway authorities
Transport operators
Accident investigation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0386111214600261
work_keys_str_mv AT peformanbenghonsmscceng managingrisksandliabilitiesinthehighwaysandtransportsector