| answer text |
<p>Highways England records details on its Command and Control (C&C) database,
of incidents that occur on the strategic road network, but only when the Traffic Officer
Service have an awareness or involvement. Therefore due to the current Traffic Officer
network coverage, the majority of incidents recorded occurred on the motorway network.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>The following table records the number of incidents coded as ‘suicide/suicide
attempt’ on the C&C database and reflect those incidents that the Traffic Officer
Service have been directly involved in or have been reported to them:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number
of suicides/attempted suicide incidents</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>93</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>125</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>110</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>84</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>In April 2014 a review of the database was carried out and the closure code
for ‘suicide/attempted suicide’ was changed. This created significant anomalies in
the data capture which means that the 2014/15 data are not robust. We are in the process
of verifying the data and will be in a position to provide the figures later this
year.</p><p> </p><p>Highways England (formerly Highways Agency) has worked closely
with organisations such as the Samaritans in helping to prevent further suicides on
the strategic road network. Highways England has commenced work to take forward a
Suicide Prevention Group. This group will comprise of relevant stakeholders such as
the Samaritans, emergency services and our service providers to develop and co-ordinate
delivery of an action plan to reduce the number of suicide attempts on the strategic
road network. We are also working closely with both the Samaritans and Network Rail
to identify best practice following their success in reducing suicide attempts on
the rail network.</p><p> </p><p>Known suicide hotspots are investigated to look at
possible improvements, such as raising the height of the parapets on bridges and introducing
or improving crisis signing. Highways England consults The Samaritans when undertaking
this work.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
|
|
