RTCs on A477 bypass at Red Roses 604/2024
FOI Reference: 604/2024
Request:-
The number of collisions that have occurred along the entire length of the A477 Red Roses improvement bypass since its development work completed. I would like to know how many of these had categorically; minor, serious or fatal outcomes. (Quantify in groups of each category i.e 50 minor 30 serious) and the number of casualties involved as a whole.
I would like to know the determined cause of these collisions (i.e 20 excess speed, 30 dangerous overtaking).
I would also like to request the same for the length of the A40 between St Clears and Carmarthen during the same period of time.
The purpose of this request is to identify potential improvements that could be suggested to the agency to improve the A477.
Response to applicant on 17/06/2024
Containing link to the crash map.
Response from applicant on 17/06/2024
While the site provides a fair bit of detail, I am looking for some additional specifics such as the severity of damage to vehicles, outcome of investigations into these collisions (the contributory causes). If you could provide this information that’d be great.
I am also interested in the very upsetting fatal collision that occurred around 4pm on 13/6/24 at Red Roses/Llanddowror and would appreciate any updates you can provide over the course of the investigation as the purpose of this FOI is to try and ensure something like this does not happen again. I appreciate if this is not possible.
Clarification sought on 20/06/2024
Please can you clarify the exact dates that you require data for e.g. April 2014-April 2024 etc.
Can you please confirm that they require information for a the A477 trunk road between St Clears and Pembroke Dock?
Please be advised that we can only provide information where an RTC report has been created by an officer. The severity of damage to the vehicles and the contributory factors are not recorded on each RTC report. We can only supply basic information which is recorded on the RTC Report e.g. front end damage, offside damage etc.
After receiving the clarification, your request will then be considered and you will receive a response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third party. If we do not receive clarification from you within 40 working days, then your request will be closed.
There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of the information you request. If this is the case you will be informed and the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive payment from you. If you chose not to make a payment then your request will remain unanswered.
Clarification received on 20/06/2024
- I’m looking for collisions between A477 St Clears-Llanteg as one table, and A40 St Clears-Carmarthen, either side of the carriageway. Please specify, if possible, the position of these along each stretch of road.
- Please provide if possible, as best as you can: the damage sustained, the number of vehicles or persons involved, the severity of the collision incl injuries, the suspected cause(s) or factors of the collision (speed, due care, dangerous driving).
- Please provide all data between present day (20/6/24) and the implementation of the Red Roses bypass (16/4/14), for both the A477 section and A40 section.
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information you have requested. However, we are withholding the whole of the requested information since we consider that the Section 12(1) exemption the Cost of Compliance exceeds the Appropriate Limit applies to it.
Response Q1-Q3
Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 places two duties on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at Section 1(1) (a) is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty at Section 1(1) (b) is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held.
Where exemptions are relied upon Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Dyfed Powys Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information you have requested. However, we are withholding the whole of the requested information since we consider that the Section 12(1) exemption the Cost of Compliance exceeds the Appropriate Limit applies to it.
Section 12 (1) – The cost of compliance exceeds the Appropriate Limit
Section 12(1) states: “…Section 1 (1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit.”
The cost of providing you with the information requested in respect of your request is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond i.e. the cost of locating and retrieving the information exceeds the “appropriate level” as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004. It is estimated that it would exceed 18 hours (i.e. minimum of 302 hours) to comply with this part of your request. The regulations can be located @ www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/3244
The Freedom of Information department has been advised that the information in respect of Questions 1 - 3 of your request is not held in an easily retrievable format. In light of this and in order to accurately obtain the information relative to your request for the time frame stipulated would involve Dyfed Powys Police accessing and reviewing each injury RTC file, as well as files recorded on the case file prep system.
It has been established that there are a total of 3,023 records that cover the period of your request. It has also been established that it would take a minimum of 6 minutes to review and obtain the information for a single record in respect of your request (as outlined above). The process outlined results in the below time estimate.
For data between 16/04/2014-12/05/2023, files recorded on our Case Prep system where the location is recorded as the A477 or A40 :-
Files relating to the A477 = 163 files x 6 minutes = 16.3 hours
Files relating to the A40= 556 files x 6 minutes = 55.6 hours
All RTC reports received between 12th May 2023 – 20/06/2024 =2304 files x 6 minutes = 230.4 hours
TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS TO COMPLETE TASK = 302.3 hours
In accordance therefore with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a Refusal Notice for the Whole of this request under Section 17(5) A public authority which, in relation to any request for information, is relying on a claim that section 12 or section 14 applies must, within the time for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice stating that fact. You may wish to refine and resubmit your request so that it reduces the time shown above to fall within the 18 hours, should you require any further advice in relation to this matter please don’t hesitate to contact the Freedom of Information Unit. Please also be advised that should the request be refined, it does not remove the public authorities right to cite exemptions if relevant.
(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 04/07/2024)