The traffic in Standish is mainly due to being regarded as a 'Strategic Highway' into Wigan by Wigan planners. The argument then goes that Standish has to suffer to keep Wigan economically alive.

Better pedestrian crossings of this traffic flow had been requested for years particularly at the lights. Any pedestrian knew that there was no time between the switching traffic flows and a majority of traffic comes around bends where the pedestrian visibility is limited. Plans to add proper crossings did exist as part of a new bus scheme. Too little to late Wigan MBC.

The inquest found an impatient lorry driver  was a cause. It didn't go further in an attempt to explain why drivers get impatient and try to rush into the mid junction turning lane. It didn't cover why the planning permission for Spar had allowed so much loss of visibility at the junction. Had the highway engineers allowed more time at the junction to cross safely it would be a good guess this would not have happened.