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

Agree with all PPs.

Lighting to either side would increase visibility.

Signal controlled crossings need longer for people actually crossing.

You would think modern technology could be used to monitor who was crossing and at what speed. So lights would stay on longer for a slower crosser, lights would change if no one crossed, let left hand traffic go if pedestrians have passed that point etc. I think motorists would be less resentful if crossings could be made more efficienct.

I think we need more signs as drivers are approaching a crossing and better lights. I agree that actually replacing them with traffic lights and the pedestrian presses a button to make the faffing stop would be better as every crossing I go to with my little ones I can guarantee cars just carrying on and not stopping its very dangerous and when your trying to teach little ones road safety it's very frustrating.

Bring back the information adverts and the green cross code!

Automatic raised bollards similar in theme to a level crossing.
Raise the crossing more so that cars MUST slow down.

School pupils should wear a fluorescent jacket in the street during the school terms.

All car must be preinstalled a dash cam so that video clips can be used as evidence in court.

All GPS navigation car system must have an automatic verbal warning system once the car approaches a zebra crossing/ traffic light/ schools/ local parks/ child nurseries.

All local authorities should provide free fluorescent jackets to old age pensioners so that car drivers will be able to see them from a distance.

maybe a first "slow right down now - crossing ahead" or "get ready to stop" road sign several metres before you get right up close to the crossing might help.

Better lighting us needed definitely. The crossings need to be longer so there is more space between the cars and the pedestrians. The lights need to be on longer and shouldn't flash orange as cars start to go but pedestrians think it is still okay to cross safely.

Speed bumps leading up to crossing, longer crossing times, install lights on every crossing, better advertising of touch sensors for those hearing/sight impaired. Better signs leading up to crossing like a green amber red warning you to slow down. More crossings would be helpful too!

Better lighting on all crossings at night.

Don't put zebra crossings at the entrance/exit to roundabouts.

There is one particularly dangerous roundabout near me with several zebra crossing on each exit. If traffic is building up on one side the cars completely obstruct the drivers view of the crossing on the other as they are exiting the roundabout-at a time that most drivers would be accelerating to leave the roundabout. It does not surprise me one bit someone was seriously injured in it just recently!

Crossing placement is an important factor-placing a crossing just after a blind bend or too near a high speed zone is a bad idea. Convenience for pedestrians is also a consideration. Placing crossing directly in front of supermarkets, train stations, schools etc. will encourage people to use them.

So many people ignore pedestrian crossings or think "I can drive across before they get to my side of the road" which is shocking. I think traffic lights on crossings and giving plenty of time to cross. I also like a pp idea of using speed bumps before crossings to force drivers to slow down.

I agree with so many of these comments. To me two main threats stand out

1. Driver concentration lapse - doesn't notice the crossing until the last seconds and brakes sharply -avoided by a rumble strip prior to the slowing down period
2. Use of mobile phones etc by drivers. Pedestrians could be head to toe in fluorescent flashing clothes, crossing well lit, signed and posted but a moment looking down at a phone, and a driver won't see any of that. It scares the life out of me. We need a huge culture change like we had with seatbelts. PLEASE.

I dont get the phenomonen in London where there are 10 /20 people waiting for the green man , but nobody has pressed the button. Outside Liverpool street station is the worst place for tjis and bern going on for 30 years

As much as possible should be done to make these as visible as humanly possible for traffic and pedestrians... with plenty of signage and warnings along the road beforehand....and CAMERAS!!