Snake Pass Safety Planning Update — What Riders Need to Know

Snake Pass (A57) – the scenic but challenging road linking Sheffield and Manchester, remains the focus of new safety planning work following recent government investment aimed at reducing collisions on this high-risk route.

New Planning and Design Work Begins

Local authorities have now started formal planning and design work on potential safety improvements along Snake Pass, using funding made available through the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Scheme. This work follows earlier confirmation of national investment to tackle collision rates and improve safety on some of the UK’s riskiest routes.

Sheffield City Council has approved the use of £267,700 for feasibility and preliminary design work on improvements between Coldwell Lane and the Derbyshire boundary, as part of a wider £1.76 million allocation for this section. Derbyshire County Council has separately received £5,898,000 to deliver improvements on its portion of the A57.

Collision Statistics on Snake Pass (2018–2023)

The latest planning documents highlight the collision history that has led to renewed safety work:

Derbyshire section of Snake Pass:

138 collisions

3 fatalities

53 serious injuries

131 slight injuries

Sheffield section (to Coldwell Lane):

31 collisions

2 fatalities

20 serious injuries

20 slight injuries

These figures cover the five-year period from 2018 to 2023.

Measures Under Consideration

The design and feasibility phase will determine which measures are ultimately taken forward, but current considerations include:

Motorcycle-friendly safety barriers and edge lines — designed to reduce injury risk and improve lane discipline, particularly in poor weather or low light.

Improved lighting and enhanced lane markings — intended to improve visibility of curves and hazards.

Advisory speed signage on bends and high-friction resurfacing — to help reduce skidding and loss of control on tricky sections.

Two average-speed cameras on rural sections within the Sheffield boundary

The overall aim of these works is to reduce the number and severity of collisions along the route.

Context – Previous Funding

This planning work follows reports earlier this year referencing government investment aimed at delivering “life-saving improvements” to the A57, recognising its safety record and the ongoing challenges caused by landslips, weather conditions and rural terrain.

What This Means for Riders

Safety Focus: The planned measures, if approved and implemented will aim to reduce collisions and injury severity on a route that remains extremely popular with motorcyclists, drivers and visitors to the Peak District.

Planning Stage Only: All activity is currently at the feasibility and design stage, with construction timelines to be confirmed once this work is complete.

Possible Disruption: Survey work or future engineering activity may require temporary restrictions or closures.

What Happens Next

The DfT estimates the work will prevent more than 93 fatal and serious collisions over the next 20 years with work expecting to be completed within three years.

Riders planning trips over Snake Pass are advised to be aware of potential temporary closures or works, to check live traffic information before setting off and to ride with caution on this distinctive and often changeable road.

Previous BMF news articles

Snake Pass Needs Funding to Prevent Closure

Snake Pass Saved by DfT Grant

Article sourced from BBC News and Yorkshire Post

Written by MJ

Top image courtesy of Stephen Bowler