Powys: Walker's death prompts coroner's headphones warning

A coroner has ordered improved safety measures where a canal towpath meets a road in Powys following the death of a walker.

Margaret Lewis died in November 2020 after being hit by a car on the B4398, near Llanymynech.

It is thought she was wearing headphones at the time.

Assistant coroner for South Wales Central Dr Sarah-Jane Richards said warning signs for both pedestrians and drivers need to be improved.

She has written to Powys council and the Canal and River Trust asking them to provide better signage.

The inquest, which took place on 11 March, heard Mrs Lewis had been walking along the towpath of the Montgomery canal on 6 November 2020, and reached a point where it crossed the road, which has a 60mph limit.

She passed through a kissing gate on to the B4398, with the intention of re-joining the towpath through a similar gate, diagonally opposite on the other side of the road.

Mrs Lewis was hit by a car as she was crossing the road. It's thought the car was travelling at between 16-22mph.

The driver was dazzled by the glare from the low sun, which meant he did not see Mrs Lewis crossing the road.

Witnesses said the car had a quiet engine which could not be heard at the time of the incident.

Dr Richards said: "With the increasing popularity of noiseless electric cars, the frequency of earphones whilst taking exercise, and the B4398 having a 60mph speed limit, I consider there is a risk of reoccurrence of such an accident."

In a ruling aimed at preventing future deaths, the coroner said that signs were needed warning pedestrians about the dangers of wearing earphones when crossing a road, and also called for signs to warn drivers of pedestrians possibly wearing earphones while crossing roads.

In response after the ruling, Matt Perry, head of highways, transport and recycling said: "Powys County Council takes public safety very seriously and has agreed to erect 'pedestrian crossing' warning signs at the location as soon as possible."

A spokesman for the Canal and River Trust said "safety is a priority, and we are committed to ensuring that the inland waterways can be enjoyed safely and playing our part in helping to deliver any recommended improvements".

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said: "Existing road signs that warn of pedestrians in the road don't necessarily convey the type of danger ahead at these popular crossings, there are currently signs for school children and frail people crossing, while another points to people walking along the road.

"You can therefore see why the coroner believes a specific sign that flags a popular crossing ahead could well be a useful tool for road authorities to use."