Preliminary Guidance for BV223 and BV224a Surveys in 2007/08

Requirements for SCANNER surveys in 2007/08 for reporting BV223 and BV224(a) in 2008

BV223 (condition of principal roads) and BV224(a) (condition of other classified roads) will be reported on the same basis in 2007/08 as in 2006/07, using the SCANNER Road Condition Indicator.

This will show the proportion of the network in poor overall condition which is likely to require planned maintenance soon.  However the values of the thresholds and weightings for the individual parameters are being revised to take account of experience of the results in 2005/06 and 2006/07, so the values reported in 2008 may not be directly comparable with those reported in 2007.

To allow for this, local authorities will be required to calculate their results using both the original set of thresholds and weightings, and a new revised set of thresholds and weightings, and to report the results based on the revised set of thresholds and weightings.

Further guidance on the thresholds and weightings to be used will be published later in the year.

In addition to the BVPI figures, the SCANNER Road Condition Indicator, obtained through UKPMS, will provide local authorities with information about which sections of their networks should be considered for planned maintenance soon, which sections should be investigated to determine the optimum time for maintenance, and which sections are generally in a good state of repair (these three categories are colloquially known as "red", "amber" and "green" lengths).

The proportion of the network in the "red" category will be reported as the BVPI and there is no need to report the "amber" or "green" proportions.

Local authorities are advised to aim to have SCANNER surveys carried out at approximately the same time each year, to minimise variations due to seasonal effects and the impact of the annual maintenance works programme.

BV223 - Condition of Principal Roads in England

Measurement

In 2007/08, local authorities in England are required to use SCANNER accredited surveys and a UKPMS accredited pavement management system to produce their BV223 report.

Where an authority has valid SCANNER survey data from half of their principal road network in 2006/07 (either 50% of the length in both directions or 100% of the length in one direction), they are required to survey the other half of their principal network in 2007/08 (i.e. the half not surveyed in 2006/07). These authorities will produce their BV223 reports in 2008 based on the most recent SCANNER survey results covering their whole of their principal road network over the 2 years from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2008.

The minimum survey requirement for an acceptable BV223 report in 2008 is for valid data covering at least 90% of the overall length of the principal road network in each direction.

BV224(a) - Condition of Non Principal classified roads in England

Measurement

In 2007/08, local authorities in England are required to use SCANNER accredited surveys and a UKPMS accredited pavement management system to produce their BV224a report.

In 2007/08, local highway authorities should re-survey the full length of their B road network, in the opposite direction from 2006/07, using a SCANNER accredited survey vehicle. The minimum requirement is for valid survey data covering at least 90% of the overall length of the B class roads in each direction.

In 2007/08, local highway authorities should continue the survey of their C class roads through surveys carried out in one direction only over at least 50% of the length of their C class roads, using a SCANNER accredited survey vehicle.  These roads should be different from those surveyed in 2006/07, bringing the total extent of surveys on C class roads up to at least 100%. The minimum requirement is for valid survey data in 2006/07 and 2007/08 combined covering at least 80% of the overall length of the C class roads in one direction only.

Authorities will produce their BV224a report in 2008 based on all the most recent SCANNER survey results covering their non principal classified road network over the 2 years from 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2008.