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The skid resistance levels of over quarter of the local road network is reported to be questionable and needs further investigation according to the latest figures from the Department for Transport. In London this rises to over half of all local roads.

According to the latest Department for Transport Road Conditions in England statistics, over the 3 years period 2016 to 2019, 28% of the local road network has questionable skid resistance levels. This is an increase of 2% over the period 2013 to 2016. The London Boroughs had the highest proportion of the road network requiring further investigation, at 53%. This has increased from 45% from the period 2013 -2016. The skidding resistance figures do not necessarily reflect actual safety levels on the roads but do indicate sites where further investigation is required.

“The increase in the number of roads requiring skid resistance is worrying,” said Mike Harper, chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA). “Reduced skidding resistance can mean increase the chance of accidents especially at approaches to road junctions and traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and roundabouts as well as road stretches that have high accidents levels. Local authorities need to ensure that these potential accident black spots are made as safe as possible by ensuring that they are investigated, properly surfaced and maintained”.

The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) is calling for greater use of high friction surfacing (HFS) and other surface treatments to improve skid resistance. Furthermore, the Association warns that deterioration in skid resistance could be an early indicator that the road as a whole needs intervention.

There are a number of cost-effective road surface techniques that can be used including surface dressing, retexturing or high friction surfacing.  Surface dressing not only restores skid resistance but also protects the road surface against water ingress and pothole formation. Retexturing can improve skid resistance with minimal disruption to the road user as it can be carried out at high speed at any time of year.

Harper pointed out that: “Highway budgets have been under immense pressure over the last few years. However, in most cases skid resistance can be restored without major resurfacing works. For roads in good condition, retexturing can restore both the macro and micro texture. Surface dressing can restore skid resistance and protect the road surface against water ingress and pothole formation. High friction surfacing significantly increases skid resistance and reduces braking distance and is particularly suited at high risk road sites. With skid accident reduction rates of over 50% the success of high friction surfacing speaks for itself.”

He continued: “Over the last few years there has been a decline in the amount of high friction surfacing being installed on our road networks. At the same time we have seen the numbers of fatal worryingly to start to rise slightly in recent years – up to 1784 in 2018, compared to 1754 in 2012* We must make sure that we don’t forget the lessons that led to the UK having some of the world’s safest roads, and re-double our efforts to reduce accidents year-on-year by using proven road surface technology.”

*Department for Transport; Reported road casualties in Great Britain: 2018 annual report; 2019