Landmark Case Over 'Lethal' Tramlines

The safety of roads in towns and cities with tram systems has been called into question following a landmark legal case.

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19th April 2004

Hailed as the solution to city gridlock, networks have been introduced in Manchester, Nottingham, Croydon and Wolverhampton, as well as other areas. But the Supertram service in Sheffield saw 53 accidents between its opening in August 1994 and January 1997. They resulted in 77 casualties, including two deaths.

Now city resident Bill Roe, 42, has won a court battle allowing him to sue the council. He suffered brain damage in 1995 when his Ford Sierra left the tramlines in Sheffield and hit a pylon. The case - the first of its kind for more than 50 years - highlighted problems on roads shared by cars and trams. A spokesman for Mr Roe's legal team told us: "Tram rails have no friction when wet, and when he came off them there was a jerk. He over-corrected and lost control."

Measures have been taken since the accident to make these routes safer, with high-friction material built up around the rails. A spokesman for Sheffield Council said: "We need to consider the best course of action in light of this decision."