Risk Assessment and Safe System of Work for Driving a Car Within a Public Park

Assessment Date: [DATE]

Assessor: [ASSESSOR NAME]

Department/Area: [DEPARTMENT/AREA]

Review Date: [REVIEW DATE]

1. Assessment Scope

This assessment covers the operation of a car within a public park for work-related activities, including driving on internal park roads, access routes, car parks, service areas, and any shared-use areas where pedestrians, cyclists, children, older persons, and other vulnerable park users may be present. It includes vehicle movement, reversing, parking, loading and unloading, interaction with the public, speed management, signage, supervision, driver competence, and compliance with applicable health and safety and road traffic requirements. The assessment excludes mechanical maintenance of the vehicle, off-site highway driving outside the park boundary, and any specialist plant or equipment operations unless they directly affect vehicle movement within the park.

2. Risk Assessment Methodology

A structured 5x5 risk assessment methodology has been used, combining likelihood and severity to determine initial and residual risk ratings. Controls are selected using the hierarchy of controls, prioritising elimination and engineering measures before administrative controls and personal protective equipment. The assessment considers normal operations and foreseeable variations such as peak visitor periods, poor weather, low light, and lone working. Traffic management principles are applied to separate vehicles from pedestrians wherever reasonably practicable, maintain clear visibility, and ensure safe movement through the site.

3. Risk Matrix Reference

The following matrix is used to evaluate risk levels based on likelihood and severity:

		Likelihood
Rare	Unlikely	Possible	Likely	Almost Certain
Severity	Catastrophic	Low	Low	Low	Medium	Medium
Major	Low	Low	Medium	Medium	High
Moderate	Low	Medium	Medium	High	High
Minor	Medium	Medium	High	High	Extreme
Negligible	Medium	High	High	Extreme	Extreme

4. Hazard Identification and Risk Evaluation

1. Collision with pedestrians, including children, older persons, and mobility-impaired park users, due to vehicle movement through shared park routes, crossings, entrances, and car parks.

Potential Consequences: A person may be struck, causing bruising, fractures, head injury, permanent disability, or fatality. Sudden pedestrian movements, reduced awareness, and limited driver sight lines increase the likelihood of serious harm. [10] [2]

Affected Persons: Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, children, wheelchair users, cyclists, park staff, contractors, and visitors.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate vehicle movement through pedestrian-only areas wherever possible by using alternative access routes or scheduling deliveries outside visitor periods.
• Separate vehicles and pedestrians using physical barriers, cones, bollards, marked crossings, and designated vehicle routes.
• Install clear warning signs, speed limit signs, and directional signage in advance of vehicle routes and crossing points.
• Use a competent supervisor to manage traffic flow and ensure drivers follow site rules and designated routes.
• Require drivers to proceed at walking pace in congested areas and to stop when pedestrians are in the vehicle path.
• Use high-visibility clothing for staff working near moving vehicles and ensure lighting is adequate in low-light conditions.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

2. Excessive vehicle speed within the park leading to loss of control, reduced stopping distance, and increased severity of any collision.

Potential Consequences: A speeding vehicle may strike a pedestrian, cyclist, animal, or fixed object, resulting in serious injury, vehicle damage, or public liability claims. [4]

Affected Persons: Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, park visitors, and nearby staff.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Set and enforce a low site speed limit appropriate to park conditions, visibility, and pedestrian density.
• Use speed limit signs, repeaters, and physical calming measures such as speed humps or narrowed lanes where suitable.
• Plan routes to avoid long straight sections that encourage speeding and to reduce unnecessary vehicle travel.
• Brief drivers on site-specific speed expectations and disciplinary consequences for non-compliance.
• Monitor vehicle speeds through supervision, spot checks, or telematics where available.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

3. Reversing collisions involving pedestrians, cyclists, other vehicles, or fixed objects during parking, turning, or manoeuvring in constrained park areas.

Potential Consequences: Reversing incidents can cause crush injuries, property damage, vehicle damage, and serious injury to vulnerable persons who may be difficult to see behind the vehicle. [5] [3]

Affected Persons: Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, park staff, and visitors.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Likely	Major	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate reversing where possible by using one-way routes, drive-through parking, and forward-entry/forward-exit arrangements.
• Use a trained banksman or signaller when reversing cannot be avoided, and ensure the driver and signaller agree on signals before movement begins.
• Fit vehicles with reversing alarms, rear-view cameras, mirrors, and other warning devices where practicable.
• Keep reversing distances as short as possible and stop immediately if the route is not fully visible or becomes obstructed.
• Establish exclusion zones behind vehicles and prohibit pedestrians from standing in reversing areas.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

4. Poor visibility caused by weather, darkness, glare, shadows, foliage, or parked vehicles reducing the driver’s ability to detect people and obstacles.

Potential Consequences: Reduced visibility can lead to collisions, near misses, delayed stopping, and failure to see pedestrians, cyclists, animals, or temporary obstructions. [1] [5]

Affected Persons: Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, park staff, and visitors.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Likely	Moderate	High

Control Measures

• Schedule vehicle movements for daylight and good weather where reasonably practicable.
• Provide adequate lighting for routes, parking areas, and reversing locations without causing glare to other users.
• Trim or manage vegetation and remove unnecessary obstructions that restrict sight lines.
• Use high-visibility clothing for staff and reflective markings on vehicles where appropriate.
• Suspend or restrict vehicle movements during severe fog, heavy rain, ice, or other conditions that materially increase risk.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Moderate	Medium

5. Conflict with public traffic flow at park entrances, internal junctions, crossings, and shared access points, including congestion and driver confusion.

Potential Consequences: Traffic conflict may cause side-impact collisions, pedestrian strikes, blocked access for emergency vehicles, and aggressive behaviour from road users. [4] [10]

Affected Persons: Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, emergency responders, park staff, and visitors.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Develop a site traffic management plan that identifies routes, access points, crossing locations, and control measures.
• Use one-way systems, designated entry and exit points, and temporary traffic control devices where needed.
• Provide advance warning signs and clear directional signage so road users understand how to proceed.
• Coordinate vehicle movements to avoid peak visitor periods and maintain access for emergency vehicles at all times.
• Assign a competent supervisor to oversee traffic arrangements and adjust controls as conditions change.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

6. Driver error or lack of competence, including unfamiliarity with park rules, poor judgement, distraction, fatigue, or unsafe manoeuvring.

Potential Consequences: Incompetent driving can result in collisions, property damage, injury to the public, and failure to comply with site rules or legal requirements. [3] [6]

Affected Persons: Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, park staff, and visitors.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Permit only authorised, competent, and licensed drivers to operate vehicles in the park.
• Provide site induction covering routes, speed limits, pedestrian priority, reversing rules, emergency arrangements, and prohibited behaviours.
• Prohibit mobile phone use and other distractions while driving.
• Use supervision and periodic ride-alongs or competency checks for new or infrequent drivers.
• Remove from duty any driver who is fatigued, impaired, or not fit to drive safely.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

7. Vehicle-pedestrian interaction during loading, unloading, stopping, or parking near entrances, picnic areas, play areas, or event spaces.

Potential Consequences: People may be struck by opening doors, moving vehicles, or shifting loads, leading to crush injuries, sprains, fractures, or impact injuries. [5] [8]

Affected Persons: Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, children, contractors, and visitors.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Moderate	Medium

Control Measures

• Select loading and unloading points away from public gathering areas and pedestrian routes.
• Use designated lay-bys or service bays where available and keep vehicles stationary with the parking brake applied.
• Maintain a clear exclusion zone around the vehicle during loading and unloading.
• Use a second person to watch for pedestrians when visibility is restricted or the area is busy.
• Keep doors and tailgates controlled to prevent sudden movement into pedestrian space.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Rare	Moderate	Low

8. Public liability exposure arising from vehicle damage, injury to park users, or failure to comply with legal duties and site rules.

Potential Consequences: The organisation may face claims, enforcement action, reputational damage, operational disruption, and increased insurance costs. [2] [7]

Affected Persons: Organisation, drivers, supervisors, contractors, and members of the public.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Ensure compliance with applicable health and safety legislation, road traffic regulations, and park by-laws or site rules.
• Maintain written procedures for vehicle movement, incident reporting, and emergency response.
• Keep records of driver authorisation, training, inspections, and supervision.
• Use signage, barriers, and route controls to demonstrate reasonable precautions to protect the public.
• Review incidents and near misses promptly and implement corrective actions.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

5. General Control Measures

• Establish a site-specific traffic management plan for the park that identifies vehicle routes, pedestrian routes, crossing points, speed limits, parking areas, and emergency access arrangements.

The plan should be communicated to all drivers and supervisors before work begins and updated when visitor patterns, weather, or site conditions change. [4] [4]

• Use physical separation wherever reasonably practicable between vehicles and pedestrians.

Apply barriers, cones, bollards, marked walkways, and controlled crossing points to reduce the chance of vehicle-pedestrian conflict. [9] [6]

• Provide clear, visible signage and road markings to guide drivers and park users.

Signs should warn of vehicle movement, indicate speed limits, and direct traffic flow in advance of hazards or changes in route. [3] [6]

• Maintain competent supervision of vehicle movements within the park.

A designated supervisor should monitor compliance, coordinate movements, and stop operations if controls are not effective. [7] [9]

• Ensure vehicles used in the park are maintained in safe condition and fitted with appropriate warning devices.

Check brakes, lights, mirrors, reversing alarms, tyres, and visibility aids before use and remove defective vehicles from service until repaired. [5] [5]

6. Emergency Preparedness

• If a collision or near miss occurs, stop vehicle movements immediately, make the area safe, and provide first aid without exposing responders to further traffic risk. Preserve the scene where required and report the incident in line with site procedures. [4]
• If a pedestrian, cyclist, or vulnerable person is struck or nearly struck, summon emergency services, secure the area, and use trained staff to control access until the scene is handed over to responders. [13]
• If visibility deteriorates suddenly due to fog, heavy rain, darkness, or glare, suspend vehicle movements until controls are restored or the risk is reduced to an acceptable level. [2]
• If an emergency vehicle needs access, give it priority and clear the route promptly while maintaining safe separation from pedestrians and other vehicles. [10]
• If traffic control arrangements fail or become unclear, stop the activity, re-establish signage and barriers, and only resume when the supervisor confirms the route is safe and understood by all users. [6]

7. Training Requirements

• Driver Competence and Site Induction: All drivers must receive site-specific induction before operating in the park. Training should cover park rules, speed limits, pedestrian priority, designated routes, reversing restrictions, parking controls, emergency access, and reporting requirements. Drivers must demonstrate competence before being authorised to work unsupervised. [3] [6]
  • Site layout and access points
  • Speed management and pedestrian awareness
  • Incident reporting and escalation
  • Prohibited behaviours, including distraction and unsafe reversing
• Pedestrian and Vulnerable User Awareness: Drivers and supervisors must be trained to recognise the presence and behaviour of children, older persons, wheelchair users, cyclists, and other vulnerable park users. Training should emphasise reduced speed, anticipation of unpredictable movement, and the need to stop whenever a pedestrian enters the vehicle path. [10] [10]
  • Children and unpredictable movement
  • Mobility aids and accessibility needs
  • Cyclist interaction and passing distances
• Reversing and Manoeuvring Safety: Drivers and signallers must be trained in safe reversing practices, including use of mirrors and cameras, pre-agreed signals, exclusion zones, and stopping immediately if visibility is lost. Where a signaller is used, they must understand their role and not perform unrelated tasks while guiding the vehicle. [5] [11]
  • Use of a banksman or signaller
  • Pre-movement checks
  • Exclusion zones and escape routes
• Traffic Management and Signage: Supervisors and relevant staff must be trained in the correct placement, maintenance, and removal of signs, cones, barriers, and other traffic control devices. Training should include how to maintain clear routes, preserve visibility, and adjust controls when conditions change. [6] [3]
  • Advance warning signs
  • Barrier and cone placement
  • Maintaining visibility in light and weather changes
• Emergency Response and Incident Reporting: Staff must be trained to respond to collisions, near misses, vehicle breakdowns, and public complaints. Training should include first aid awareness, emergency contact procedures, scene preservation, and escalation to management or emergency services when required. [4] [12]
  • Immediate stop and make-safe actions
  • First aid and emergency calling
  • Preserving evidence and reporting

8. Monitoring and Review

Review Frequency: Annually and after any incident, near miss, significant change to park layout, traffic patterns, weather-related event, or change in legal/site requirements.

Monitoring Type	Frequency	Responsible Party	Description
Pre-use Vehicle Inspection	Before each use	Driver	Check brakes, tyres, lights, mirrors, reversing aids, warning devices, and general roadworthiness before entering the park. Defects that affect safe operation must be reported and the vehicle removed from service until corrected.
Supervisor Route and Control Check	Daily or before each operational period	Site Supervisor	Verify that routes, signs, barriers, speed controls, and pedestrian separation measures are in place and suitable for current visitor levels and weather conditions.
Speed and Behaviour Compliance Monitoring	Weekly and spot-checked during operations	Supervisor or designated competent person	Observe driver behaviour to confirm compliance with speed limits, pedestrian priority, reversing rules, and distraction controls. Record and address any non-conformances.
Incident and Near-Miss Review	After every incident or near miss	Supervisor and management	Investigate collisions, near misses, complaints, and traffic control failures to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Formal Traffic Management Review	Annually and after significant site changes	Management and competent supervisor	Review the risk assessment, traffic routes, signage, and control measures after layout changes, seasonal changes, new hazards, or changes in park use.

9. Special Circumstances

• Peak visitor periods increase pedestrian density and require additional controls such as reduced vehicle movements, marshals, or temporary route restrictions. [4]
• Night work or low-light operations require enhanced lighting, reflective clothing, and stricter reversing controls because visibility is reduced. [5]
• Wet, icy, foggy, or windy conditions can reduce braking performance, visibility, and driver control, so vehicle movements should be restricted or suspended when necessary. [1]
• Lone working increases the consequence of a collision or breakdown because immediate assistance may not be available, so communication checks and escalation arrangements are required. [7]
• Events, school visits, or family activities may introduce vulnerable persons and unpredictable movement patterns, requiring temporary traffic restrictions and additional supervision. [10]

Approval and Sign-off

This risk assessment has been reviewed and approved by:

Assessor: _________________________ Date: __________

Manager/Supervisor: _________________________ Date: __________

Safety Representative: _________________________ Date: __________

This risk assessment must be reviewed annually and after any incident, near miss, significant change to park layout, traffic patterns, weather-related event, or change in legal/site requirements. or when significant changes occur.

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