Landmark UK-wide road design standard makes suicide prevention assessments mandatory

For the first time, suicide prevention assessments will be mandatory for the development of relevant road projects across the UK.

Thought to be the first of its kind in Europe, National Highways has led the development of the Suicide Prevention Assessment and Review (SPAR) standard in partnership with the UK Roads Leadership Group (UKRLG), embedding suicide prevention into the planning, design and delivery of road infrastructure across the UK.

The standard builds on guidance published by National Highways and UKRLG on World Suicide Prevention Day last year. While the guidance encouraged consideration of suicide prevention, the SPAR standard makes it a required part of the development of relevant road projects.

Project teams must assess suicide-related risks and consider opportunities to reduce them through the planning and design of road schemes and bridges. The standard also requires ongoing review to ensure risks are continually monitored and suitable interventions remain in place as projects progress.

Local authorities will also be involved so that any assessments take on board local knowledge and experience.

National Highways' Suicide Prevention Lead, Nicola Tweedie 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.”

Tragically, an estimated 60 suspected suicides occur on England's motorways and major-A roads each year, accounting for more than one in five road deaths annually. This work forms part of our wider approach to suicide prevention and our ambition that no one is harmed on our roads. This includes our partnership with the charity Chasing the Stigma, helping people access support earlier and before they reach crisis point.

Sarah Ruane, Assistant Director Policy, Practice and Influencing at Samaritans, said:

"Suicide prevention cuts across every part of society, and the road sector has an important role to play in creating safer environments. We welcome this standard, which shows positive leadership in recognising how the design and management of the road network can contribute to suicide prevention. Embedding suicide prevention into planning and decision-making is an important step towards reducing risk, helping save lives, and encouraging other sectors to consider the role they can play too."

Nicola Head, Vice-Chair of the UK Bridges Board on behalf of UK Roads Leadership Group, said:

“I’m pleased National Highways led the development of this standard with the devolved administrations, UK Bridges Board and UK Roads Leadership Group.

“Suicide prevention is a complex issue that no organisation can tackle alone. This standard provides a practical framework to help asset owners work with health professionals, consider effective interventions and make informed decisions that could help save lives.”

Through the assessment process, project teams may identify opportunities to introduce measures that help reduce risk, such as modifying access to high-risk locations, installing anti-climb barriers, reviewing structures for unintended suicide-related risks, and designing infrastructure in ways that discourage vulnerable individuals from coming to harm.