Traffic & Highway engineering
Greater clarity for drivers and pedestrians
The traffic management trials by Westminster City Council have all taken place at points where there had already been a form of unregulated crossing (informal or courtesy crossing).
At present drivers, across the country, come across a wide variety of coloured and textured road surfaces that are intended to warn them that people might cross the road. Local drivers might understand their meaning but visitors are less likely to recognise their purpose, especially when seen from a safe stopping distance. The new designs, which are similar to zebra crossings, are an international symbol and easily recognised and understood by drivers.
Instruction for drivers
The instructions for drivers at road junctions as stated in the Rule H2 of the Highway Code are that they should give way for pedestrians waiting to cross or crossing the road.
Instructions for pedestrians
The Highway Code also informs pedestrians that at crossings they should wait until traffic has stopped before they cross a road.
Simplified form of zebra crossing
The Westminster C C trials use a simplified form of zebra crossing design and signs. There are no illuminated orange globes (Belisha beacons), no stop lines, no white studs and no zigzag lines. The zebra stripes do however conform to the zebra crossings road markings in colour and dimension.
Application to junctions at roundabouts
Rule H2 of the Highway Code clearly states that it applies to road junctions. Though example illustrations in the Code indicate side road junction, the formal text merely states road junctions. The concerns relating to road safety at unregulated crossings at side road junctions applies equally to junctions at the entrance and exit of roundabouts.
Location of crossings at roundabouts
Crossings at roundabouts need to be positioned with care. Those on direct pedestrian desire lines are convenient and more likely to be used. But drivers need distance and space to be able to safely stop, suggesting that the crossing should be sufficiently away from the junction at the exit and entrance to the roundabout.
The matter is resolved by the Highway Code rule H2 stating that at junction crossings drivers should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross or crossing. While at controlled zebra crossing drivers MUST stop for pedestrians already crossing.
The difficulty of drivers recognising an informal or courtesy crossing at a roundabout is overcome by it being clearly marked as a zebra.
Typical courtesy crossings at a roundabout junction. Each has a dropped kerb and tactile paving.
It is difficult for drivers, unfamiliar with a location, to understand what the subtle road surface changes mean
Zebra crossings at each junction of a Swiss roundabout
Courtesy crossings at each junction of roundabouts at Poynton, Cheshire
Give way zone
The current method available to give priority to pedestrians is convoluted. There is no traffic sign in the UK that instructs drivers that they must give way to pedestrians. The closest is the Home Zone signs, but that may only be applied to residential areas and relies on expensive or annoying traffic calming road humps to reduce speed.
New traffic sign
The proposed new sign simply adapts the Home Zone sign so that it may also be applied to non-residential locations with the added instruction to give way and a speed limit of 15mph. This would bring it line with established non-UK practice.
Existing UK Home Zone sign
Swiss Begegnungszonen - Give Way Zones, where pedestrians have priority within a 20kmph speed limit
Suggested sign for a UK GIVE WAY zone