Crossings at roundabout junctions
Safer and more convenient crossing at roundabout junctions
The concerns about pedestrian safety and amenity as well as clarity for drivers at side-road junctions are replicated at the road junctions where drivers enter and leave a roundabout. There is an urgent need for safer and more convenient crossings for pedestrians at road junctions with roundabouts, in the form of a simple zebra-style crossing on the direct, convenient, pedestrian desire line.
The need for change
Current highway engineering practice, for road safety reasons, normally puts formal zebra crossings some distance away from a roundabout. Though, at the roundabout, there is often an informal crossing place with dropped kerbs and tactile paving, as well as in some cases a change in the colour or texture of the road surface.
In some UK towns, the design of an urban roundabout includes a complete set of formal zebra crossings at the junction of each road where a driver enters and leaves the roundabout. They have a good safety record, though seems expensive and is certainly cluttered and unsightly.
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How it could be done
There appears to be an opportunity for trials that provide safe, convenient and comfortable crossings for pedestrians while giving sensible warning to drivers. A simplified form of zebra road marking would seem to be sufficient and would follow common European practice.
The suggested trial crossings at roundabout junctions, similarly to the crossings at side-road junctions, would appear also to be governed by Rule H2 of the Highway code.
The crossings at the Swiss roundabouts that we studied in April 2026 had sufficient space for a single car to stop after leaving the roundabout, there was very little resulting congestion on the roundabout. A central pedestrian refuge allowed pedestrians to cross safely and comfortably in a short time with little delay for drivers.
Subtly positioned landscape guided pedestrians conveniently and pleasantly to the crossings which had zebra-style road markings, clearly understood by the drivers we observed.
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When could it be done
It appears to be reasonable for local highway authorities to immediately carry out their own monitored trials using a similar procedure to new side-road crossing trials.
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