Stepping Out Safely

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 10

Stepping Out Safely

Few pedestrians realise how long it takes a car to stop. A pedestrian can stop in one step—almost instantly—but a car travelling at 30 m.p.h. takes about 11 car lengths for a normal emergency stop, the Transport Department says. When there is a sudden extreme emergency such as . a pedestrian stepping in front of the car, it is sometimes possible for the car to be stopped in six car lengths, provided the car’s-brakes are in good condition; there is plenty of tread on its tyres; the road surface is good, and not wet or slippery; and the driver’s reactions are good.

For normal purposes, however, when a car is approaching at 30 m.p.h. the pedestrian who steps in front of it within six car lengths is stepping into what could be called a “suicide zone.” The same pedestrian stepping into the path of a car up to 11 car lengths away would still be stepping into a “high risk zone.”

If cars are travelling at 30 m.p.h. a person needs about 50 yards of clear road for each traffic lane he has to cross. In other words on a two lane road he needs a distance of at least eight car lengths or the spacing of one and a half telegraph poles on his right and twice that.

distance across the centre line on his left, the department says. A pedestrian often steps out in front of a car relying on the driver to see him and avoid him. But pedestrians should always remember that the driver might be looking at something else, particularly at the approach to an intersection. If it is dark the driver might not be able to see the pedestrian at all. All pedestrians should remember that although they can stop instantly a driver cannot, even if he sees the pedestrian. He has over half a ton of metal to stop and that takes time, the department says.