Share with Direct Line your ideas to make pedestrian crossings safer - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED!

[EmmaMumsnet]

Direct Line have approached us to ask MNers for their ideas on how to make pedestrian crossing safer for pedestrians and motorists. Over 7,000 incidents are recorded each year at UK crossings between vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians and Direct Line would like to hear your thoughts on how to improve them.

Rachael Lynch, Innovation Marketing Manager at Direct Line said; “72 per cent of UK adults feel crossings need to be updated and in October 2017 Direct Line developed the world’s smartest pedestrian crossing, the Smart Crossing. As we developed the technology, it became apparent that the potential for what could be done was far greater than we had initially imagined, which is why we have made the technology open source and are continuing to work with partners to explore ways to modernise the pedestrian crossing for all road users including pedestrians and motorists."

So please share below your most creative ideas for how to improve pedestrian crossings. Do also share your thoughts on the safety at pedestrian crossings and how you and your children were/are taught about road safety.

Everyone who comments on the thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks,

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

The crossing could be raised up like a large speed bump, I have seen these already in built up areas

There is a stupid blue zig-zag road marking that has been installed outside our local train station that is incredibly dangerous because no-one knows what it means!

I think one thing in particular would be to ensure that Blind people can cross safely. If a driver decides to jump a zebra crossing for example, or hurries someone along by moving forward when a person is still on the crossing they should be fined.

Some sort of voice activation/button system for blind people telling them it is safe to cross.

Punishment for those who do not respect pedestrian crossings.

Like others have said, I want to see speed bumps before a crossing. In our village there's a zebra crossing on the main road that sees lots of moring and evening traffic. I can't believe how many drivers fail to stop. I'd also like to see cameras and better lighting.

Puffin crossings rather than just zebra crossings are much better as drivers must stop and don't tend to edge forward or "accidentally not spot you" wanting to cross

Count downs (with audible beeping) for the last ten seconds before the lights change back to allow traffic to proceed. Or even longer: there was a crossing near where we used to live in the US that warned when the lights were going to change in 45 seconds time (it was a very big, wide road)

The paint on zebra crossings needs to be reflective and they should embed coloured cats eyes along either side. Lighting is important too, as so many people cross in dark clothing and can be practically impossible to see.

Zebra crossings are a joke as others have already said. I've seen so many incidents of someone stepping out and a car not shopping. I think they should all be replaced with lights.

I also don't like the flashing amber light as it just causes confusion with pedestrians dashing across and car racing to get going. A solid amber for get ready to go would be fine. I think some crossings do this.

Another who thinks better lighting would make a massive difference.

Agree with a longer crossing timer.

I’m trying to teach DD how to cross roads safely, she’s 3. I talk about looking both ways, making sure no cars are coming, going to the crossing and waiting for the green man or the beeping sound. I hope that talking through it as we do it she will gage more but it’ll be s long time before she’s doing it on her own.

In reality probably only some sort of enforcement would work. I do think painting them in brighter paint could be a novel idea!

I agree that crossing times should be longer and more signs warning drivers they are approaching a crossing, but tbh I'm not sure it will make them any safer.

Many times I have waited at the pelican crossing until the lights are red and the green man flashes, however drivers have still failed to stop. Also DM is a school crossing patrol officer (lollipop lady), there are lights to warn drivers that they are approaching a crossing yet many drivers fail to slow down.

Pressure plates under the pavement next to the crossing that trigger a special large flashing pedestrian crossing sign

Maybe a smaller set of traffic lights at "cyclist level", as there does seem to be a certain group of commuting cyclists who don't see the big traffic lights turning red, perhaps these are positioned too high for them to see?

But I would also like to see pedestrians take responsibility for their own safety and use the provided crossings, instead of trying to dart between cars - sometimes with small children in tow - only 20 yards down from the crossing. Teach your children to walk up, press the button, and wait for a safe time to cross.

The Highway Code says this about zebra crossings:

“you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing”

Which a lot of people have interpreted as give way ONLY if they have a foot on the crossing.

I will only cross as a pedestrian when I can see the car is going to stop/ has stopped, otherwise it’s like playing a game of chicken. So I stand waiting patiently, and the car then sees this as they don’t need to stop as I’m not actually on the crossing!

As a driver, I was taught to be aware of pedestrians approaching a crossing, and always be prepared to stop.

I propose that the Highway Code be changed to give clarity that drivers MUST stop when a pedestrian is approaching OR on a zebra crossing. I would happily see all zebra crossings turned in to puffin crossings, people are more likely to stop for an actual red light.

Fluorescent paint would really help the ones on relatively unlit roads near me.

Zebra crossings should be more lit up at night. Very hard to see in the distance if someone is waiting to cross.

Also if there is traffic build up on the opposite side it is hard to see if someone is waiting on that side. There should be those yellow boxes either side if the crossing so there is a big gap and the crossing not hidden.

I think the countdown things are really helpful and would like to see them used more widely

I liked the countdown timers that are used in USA. It helps assess whether I'll feasibly have time to cross if I just arrive at the crossing. I think we should have something similar here.

We have a zebra crossing where it is difficult for drivers to see if pedestrians are standing at one side of the crossing due to parked cars etc but lots of drivers don't seem to take the extra time to check and go speeding through. I think extra road markings on the approach to the crossing might make a difference and definitely better lighting but ultimately perhaps stop lights need to be put it. It used to worry me when my dd had to use this and always told her to step out very slowly and make sure drivers had stopped before going any further.

I agree with so many others who think the crossing times should be longer. Sometimes it's really hard to get across quickly enough with young kids and some drivers can be quite intimidating about it

Having 5 kids I feel all pedestrian crossings should have some sort of lights (like you have at traffic lights) to control how much time you have to cross as some zebra crossings dont have anything to say drivers have to stop so some don't or they try to hurry you up by driving forwards to get closer to the crossing. Toddlers cant walk that quick and its scary when cars are revving so close to them so a green and red light that uses sensors to detect when someones waiting to cross would be a big help.

Rising bollards that start to come up and stop traffic so pedestrians can cross safely.

There's a city near us that uses these on a couple of very busy crossings. It certainly stops vehicles jumping the lights. They allow plenty of time to clear and don't go down again until after the pedestrian light is flashing. The traffic light is definitely green for traffic before it starts moving again.

Make more with bike crossing separate to pedestrians. I’m sick of almost getting run over by cyclists who go at the same time as pedestrians.

Some kind of penalty camera that triggers and driver gets a fine if they start going before you've reached the other side of the road. When crossing the road with a toddler I've been barely halfway across the road when cars on the side I've come from have zoomed off

Better lighting would help. Also campaigns to get schools - particularly secondary schools to change their uniform requirements so that students need to wear bright/ reflective clothing. Many require plain black/ navy which are nearly invisible in the dark.