Working for change » Post-crash response » Effective inquests » Coroner's role in preventing deaths
Coroner's role in preventing deaths
We know from our bereaved members that the only ‘good’ that can come from a road death is for lessons to be learned and risks reduced to others.
Too often bereaved families are denied this comfort by coroners’ complacency with road deaths, as seen by the lack of reports issued for preventive measures.
Part of the problem is coroners’ perceived complacency with road deaths, as these are still seen and described as ‘accidents'.
This missed opportunity to promote preventative measures is especially true in the case of cyclists being killed in collisions with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), as highlighted in our briefing Coroners' reports and preventing further deaths.
The killing of cyclists in collisions with lorries is a recurring and long-standing problem. Much is being done to reduce the danger that lorries pose to other road users, and some coroners have made reports in the past, but not often enough. Low cost counter-measures such as sensors and cameras can help compensate for a blind spot, are easily available and are being promoted by government.
There are other examples of missed opportunites: for instance, excessive and inappropriate speed is reported as a contributory factor in hundreds of fatal crashes each year, but speed reduction measures are rarely mentioned by coroners.
