Report on a collision involving a traffic controller on Rv 7 near Ål, in Hallingdal muncipality, Viken

The vehicle-pedestrian collision on 20 September 2021 occurred when a traffic controller was hit by a passenger car in connection with roadworks on national road Rv 7 in Ål in Hallingdal. The function of traffic controllers is to protect other workers and road users from traffic-related hazards in connection with roadworks. However, traffic controllers are themselves in a vulnerable position as pedestrians and workers located in the roadway. The NSIA is therefore of the opinion that manual traffic control should be avoided if alternative control measures are an option.

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration stipulate a requirement for an assessment of necessity (as part of the risk assessment) for applications for approval of roadwork safety plans that include the use of manual traffic control, and that the use of traffic controllers be refused on sections of road where other traffic control measures can be employed to safeguard workers and road users in connection with work on and along roads.

The vehicle-pedestrian collision on 20 September 2021 occurred when a traffic controller was hit by a passenger car in connection with roadworks on national road Rv 7 in Ål in Hallingdal. The investigation has shown that the requirements set out in Handbook N301 Work on and along roads (2012) did not sufficiently address traffic controllers’ safety in a situation where the driver of a vehicle failed to comply with the directions provided by signage. The roadwork safety plan example included in the handbook also contained information that did not conform to requirements with a bearing on traffic controllers’ safety stipulated in the handbook.

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration review and improve Handbook 301’s sections on roadwork safety and manual traffic control with a view to addressing traffic controllers’ safety. This includes clarifying the buffer zone for traffic controllers and include requirements concerning speed-reducing measures in this area, a requirement for the traffic controller’s position to be logged, clarifying responsibility for quality assuring execution of work in accordance with the roadwork safety plan, and quality assuring examples and approval of roadwork safety plans to ensure that they comply with the applicable requirements.

The vehicle-pedestrian collision on 20 September 2021 occurred when a traffic controller was hit by a passenger car in connection with roadworks on national road Rv 7 in Ål in Hallingdal. The investigation has shown that there were several non-conformities in the implementation of roadwork safety measures on the day of the accident that limited the traffic controller’s possibilities of keeping himself safe in the situation in question, and that the role of site safety supervisor was not properly executed. All parties involved in the roadwork safety work had completed approved training as required by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority considers that the investigative findings indicate that the training requirements set out in Handbook N301E Work on and along roads (2012) did not sufficiently address traffic controllers’ safety.

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration review and improve Handbook 301’s sections on training of personnel involved in roadwork safety and manual traffic control in areas with a bearing on traffic controllers’ safety.

The vehicle-pedestrian collision on 20 September 2021 occurred when a traffic controller was hit by a passenger car in connection with roadworks on national road Rv 7 in Ål in Hallingdal. The investigation has shown that there were several non-conformities in the implementation of roadwork safety measures on the day of the accident that limited the traffic controller’s possibilities of keeping himself safe in the situation in question, and that the role of site safety supervisor was not properly executed. Inadequate procedures for the site safety supervisor role and an unclear understanding of what site safety supervisor responsibility entails contributed to Asfalt Remix not checking the roadwork safety. Asfalt Remix’s safety manager and site safety supervisor had also not prepared internal procedures for how to exercise site safety supervisor responsibility, despite this being a requirement of Handbook N301E Work on and along roads (2012).

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that Asfalt Remix review and improve its training and procedures to ensure compliance with the regulatory framework that applies to responsibility for quality assurance of the implementation of roadwork safety measures and manual traffic control.

The vehicle-pedestrian collision on 20 September 2021 occurred when a traffic controller was hit by a passenger car in connection with roadworks on national road Rv 7 in Ål in Hallingdal. TrafikkDirigering AS had been hired to put up signage, direct traffic and run convoys with an escort vehicle through the worksite. The investigation has shown that there were non-conformities in the implementation of roadwork safety measures that limited the traffic controller’s possibilities of keeping himself safe in the situation in question, and that the site safety supervisor role was not properly executed. TrafikkDirigering’s understanding of the regulatory framework governing roadwork safety was unclear, resulting in shortcomings in the company's traffic control procedures and training.

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that TrafikkDirigering AS review and improve its training and procedures to ensure compliance with the regulatory framework for roadwork safety work and manual traffic control, with particular attention to areas with a bearing on traffic controllers’ safety.