A system to inspect the sites of serious road crashes to determine if environmental or road factors contributed, has stalled because almost a quarter of local authorities are refusing to co-operate, reports the Irish Times.

Under the scheme, an engineer and garda are supposed to inspect the site within 48 hours of the crash to determine if the road or junction is dangerous and what, if any, remedial works are required...The Collision Reporting Procedure covers all crashes resulting in death or serious injury...

Local authorities are refusing to participate due to concern they may face legal action because in many cases engineers are asked to inspect their own work. The Local Government Management Services Board (LGMSB) was told local authority engineers would not fill out the form used to assess potential hazards at the crash site and said the system was "causing concern among area engineers. . . mainly due to a fear of culpability and litigation under health and safety legislation".

The problem was referred to the National Roads Authority late last year and it has developed a revised form for reporting collisions, significantly reducing the level of interpretation required from engineers. A pilot programme using the new reporting procedure is underway in counties Kerry and Wexford and will be introduced in all local authorities if successful...

Irish Times