FoVRA Call for action to protect hard-shoulder recoveries

Posted: Oct 20, 2017

FoVRA call for action to protect hard-shoulder recoveries

FoVRA, as the largest repressentative body of recovery operators, is very concerned that the situation is both out of control and putting lives unreasonably at risk. We will be recommending that operators stop responding to calls to recover vehicles on major roads until the Work Providers or the Highways England provides suitable protection for the recovery personnel.

We have recently seen the deaths of three of our recovery colleagues killed whilst attending roadside/hard-shoulder recoveries. The impact on their families is greater than words can express and everyone in the recovery industry will feel their loss.

There have in the past been calls for the protection of recovery vehicles working on the hard-shoulders of major roads but although there is much talk nothing ever happens.

There is a need for protection of the recovery scene such as happens on the European mainland where an extra vehicle protects the adjoining lane to indicaate the need for traffic to move across and to protect the immediate vicinity of the recovery.

In the UK Work Providers and Highways England talk about Health and Safety, nevertheless, they are happy to pay the absolute minimum to have a casualty vehicle removed from the road network but not take steps to safeguard the recovery scene and help to ensure the Health and Safety of the working technician. The recovery operator safeguards the immediate environment but the wider road usage in the area is outside their control.

Recovery Contracts are for the collection of vehicles from the road network and there is no payment, provision or authorisation for any wider ranging protective measures that would safeguard personnel against a high-speed collision from another vehicle over which they have absolutely no control.

If Work Providers or Government Agencies want to continue this service they must provide appropriate protection to recovery personnel and FoVRA feels that it is quite reasonable to continue to refuse to attend until reasonable safeguards are in place to protect the lives of those attending any recovery on a major road.

FoVRA Committee

AVRO, RRRA, SVRA

Address:

AVRO House, 1 Bath Street, Rugby CV21 3JF

Tel: 01788 572850