The Fosse Way corridor in Warwickshire is a 36-mile Roman road with a history of more than 100 collisions in the last five years. This posed a serious and complex challenge. Substandard design, varying crash patterns, and diverse road users (commuters, tourists, and heavy goods vehicles) created a dangerous mix, making it difficult to identify where and how to intervene effectively.
In partnership with Michelin, Arcadis brought together the best consultancy expertise and cutting-edge driving behavior data to help Warwickshire County Council take bold, evidence-led action. While traditional collision data was sparse and scattered, Michelin's near-miss data provided a clearer, real-time view of high-risk locations. By combining that with Arcadis’ road safety knowledge and analytical tools, we created a unique solution: an online tool that enabled the council to proactively diagnose problems and prioritize the most effective interventions.
This was more than a standard safety audit; it was an ambitious, experimental pilot designed to test the limits of innovation. Warwickshire’s openness to new thinking allowed Arcadis and Michelin to use AI and machine learning to turn data into actionable insight, resulting in a powerful new way to tackle road safety challenges before tragedy strikes. This solution could become a blueprint for road safety across the UK and beyond.
How does it work?
A wide range of data sets is fed into the model, including recorded crashes, near-misses, or dangerous driving events. Other relevant information, such as traffic patterns, weather patterns, points of interest along the route that may affect driving speeds, and infrastructure information, then provides a comprehensive, holistic view of driver decision-making. The model then produces multiple beneficial outcomes for our clients, such as a risk assessment that can include hotspot areas or school zone assessments and a diagnostic tool to support site-specific recommendations for improvements.
At its core, the Fosse Way road project is about preventing serious and even fatal accidents. By using near-miss data and predictive analytics, Arcadis and Michelin helped Warwickshire County Council shift from a reactive to a proactive safety model.
The project has empowered the council to make smarter, more impactful use of safety funds. Rather than only investing in known ‘crash cluster’ sites, the project’s approach allowed for a more strategic spread of interventions across the entire corridor. This systemic method not only improves safety more effectively but also ensures communities along the Fosse Way driving route all benefit from the upgrades.
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership continues to embed the proactive Safe System approach with this first project on near miss data being an important milestone. The quality of the work from Arcadis allows all partners to understand clearly the different technology and data available to us to help inform decision and prioritisation.
Arcadis and MICHELIN’s insights have been pivotal in supporting the activities of the road safety team. Their innovative solutions, such as the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, help us understand and mitigate risk situations before they escalate. This collaborative effort ensures that our casualty reduction schemes are not only data-driven but also highly effective in improving road safety on Fosse Way.
Create a better future with us
