Final decisions on the second Road Investment Strategy that will cover new investments in the Strategic Road Network after 2020 will be announced later this year. These decisions will draw on evidence assembled through our extensive consultation and engagement process, including local proposals for enhancing the A38 between Exeter and Bodmin and the findings of Highways England’s South West Peninsula Route Strategy, published in 2017.

The decision to consult was taken before the Coroner’s Inquest into the tragic collision on 16 September 2017. It was based on the emerging body of evidence, collated by the Department for Transport, over several years including that obtained from vehicle inspections and the important new research commissioned in January 2018.

The Department also commissioned an independent examiner in relation to the tyre implicated in the collision of 16 September 2017. The Department became aware of new evidence implicating tyre ageing directly in the cause of the collision on 21 February 2019, evidence with which the Department's independent examiner concurred. The analysis from the independent experts included as testimony at the inquest formed an important contribution to the Department's emerging evidence base. Ministers were informed of this new evidence on 22 February 2019

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency staff attended the scene of the collision on 16^th September 2017, and recognised that tyre damage had occurred. In November 2017, the Department for Transport became aware of a Police report relating to the collision that cited tyre age as an issue and immediately commissioned an independent examination of the tyre. This reported in December 2017 and a further forensic examination was commissioned. This reported in October 2018 and Ministers were informed of the findings in early November 2018.

In parallel with these investigations specialist research was contracted in January 2018 to examine the wider issue of tyre ageing. This is expected to report in spring 2019.

Given the emerging evidence on tyre safety, the Government announced on 26 February that it will consult on options to ban older tyres from use on buses, coaches, heavy goods vehicles and minibuses to help keep road users safe.

Work to make the M5 from Junction 15 to Junction 17 near Bristol a smart motorway was completed in Spring 2014. Access to and from the South West has been further improved with completion of a Smart Motorway upgrade of the M5 from Junctions 4a (Droitwich Spa) to Junction 6 (Worcester) completed in Spring 2017.

There are no plans within the current Road Investment Strategy (RIS) (2015 – 2020) to upgrade further sections of the M5 to a smart motorway. Highways England continue to engage with local authorities and other interested parties on future changes to the network. The need for further upgrades will be considered during the design of the next RIS for the period 2020-2025.

We are currently preparing for the second Road Investment Strategy that will cover new investments in the strategic road network after 2020. As part of our consideration we shall be examining the evidence relating to the A38 gathered by Highways England through its South West Peninsula Route Strategy, published earlier this year. We shall also take account of the economic importance of the network in providing access to port cities like Plymouth.