National Highways has made suicide prevention assessments mandatory for relevant road design projects, in response to more than 60 suspected suicides recorded on England’s motorways and major A-roads each year.
The new Suicide Prevention Assessment and Review (SPAR) standard was developed by National Highways with the UK Roads Leadership Group (UKRLG). National Highways says it is believed to be the first standard of its kind in Europe.
Risk assessment built into project development
Under the standard, project teams must identify suicide-related risks and consider measures to reduce them during the planning and design of road schemes and bridges. Assessments must be reviewed as projects develop, with risks monitored and interventions maintained or adjusted where necessary.
Local authorities will contribute local knowledge and experience to the assessments. The requirement builds on guidance issued by National Highways and UKRLG on World Suicide Prevention Day last year, which encouraged road-sector organisations to consider suicide prevention but did not make it mandatory.
The suspected suicides on England’s motorways and major A-roads account for more than one in five road deaths annually, according to National Highways.
Wider prevention strategy
Nicola Tweedie, National Highways’ suicide prevention lead, said: “Every suicide is a tragedy that has a devastating impact on families, friends and communities. While infrastructure planning alone cannot prevent every tragedy, it can play an important role in reducing risk and creating safer environments.
“This is an important shift which will help keep people safe on our roads.”
National Highways said the design requirement forms part of a broader ambition that no one is harmed on the UK’s roads. Its wider work includes a partnership with charity Chasing the Stigma, intended to help people access support before they reach crisis point.