Highways bosses 'will look to recover damages' caused by M65 barrier crash

Highways engineers repairing the cable barrier on the M65

Highways bosses will consider recouping the cost of motorway repairs after a car crashed into the central reservation on the M65.

The one-vehicle collision was reported on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 4 and 3 at around 12.25pm on Sunday June 8. Nobody was injured.

Police and National Highways were called to the scene and a rolling roadblock was put in place to clear the debris on the motorway.

Both the west- and eastbound carriageways were reduced by one lane while the cable barrier central reservation was made safe.

Bosses at National Highways are understood to be assessing when a permanent repair can be carried out.

The lane closures were subsequently removed at just before midnight on Sunday.

Cable barriers are designed to absorb the energy from an impact, although pro-motorcycling campaigners argue they are inherently dangerous for those on two wheels.

National Highways operates a system of 'green claims' and 'red claims' with regards to motorways and trunk roads.

Green claims refer to damage caused by a negligent motorist which National Highways will attempt to recoup through their insurance company or their employer.

Claims are recovered under what is known as tort of negligence law, and can only be made against a third-party driver if legal liability for the damage caused can be established.

The burden of proving legal liability in tort rests on National Highways.

To recoup damages from a motorist's insurer highways need to be able to prove that the driver was negligent, that there was deliberate intent; if there is reason to believe the damage was caused deliberately, that the driver’s negligence caused damage to propertyowned by National Highways, and that the damage has caused recoverable loss to National Highways.