Recommended insurance position for local councils or community organisations
As part of our commitment to supporting organisations taking part in the Road Warden Scheme, we provide third‑party liability insurance for approved activities, provided all works are carried out in line with the Road Warden Agreement.
The information and table below are designed to help organisations understand what additional insurance they may need to have in place to ensure they are fully covered for the type of work they intend to carry out.
| Insurance type | Provided by Devon County Council | Additional cover recommended |
| Public Liability | Yes, subject to conditions | Strongly advised |
| Personal Accident (volunteers) | Limited | Optional |
| Employers’ Liability (including volunteers) | No | Essential |
| All risks cover for tools and equipment | No | Optional |
| Vehicle cover | No | Discuss with provider |
Public Liability
Devon County Council provides public liability cover for activities carried out under the an approved Road Warden Agreement. Devon County Council’s Public Liability cover applies only to approved Road Warden activities carried out strictly within the scope of the scheme.
Local councils or community organisations are strongly advised to maintain their own Public Liability insurance to provide protection where:
- an activity falls outside the County Council scheme,
- there has been any deviation from approved procedures, or
- there is uncertainty about the capacity in which the volunteer was acting.
Personal Accident
We provide a limited level of personal accident cover for Road Warden volunteers (maximum benefit £5,000). Local councils or community organisations may wish to consider arranging additional personal accident insurance to offer higher levels of financial protection for volunteers in the event of serious injury or death. This type of cover operates regardless of fault and complements liability insurance rather than replacing it.
Employers’ Liability (including volunteers)
Local councils or community organisations should ensure they have Employers’ Liability insurance that explicitly includes volunteers. This covers injury or illness suffered by volunteers while working under their direction or control.
All Risks – tools and equipment
Where tools or equipment are owned by a local council or community organisation and issued to volunteers, all risks insurance can be used to cover theft, loss or accidental damage. This includes when items are in use or held by volunteers. It is not compulsory, but it is good practice.
Vehicle insurance
Volunteers who use their own vehicles for Road Warden duties should notify their motor insurer to make sure their policy covers this type of activity, as some insurers may require prior notification or apply restrictions.