PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 74, 29 March 1939, Page 13

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

CROSSINGS TO BE LIT

ALTERNATIVE TYPES

Amendments to the traffic regulations dealing with pedestrian crossings are to be discussed at the meeting of /the Road Safety Council tomorrow. The greatest difficulty experienced in connection with these crossings in the past is that of ensuring that they are sufficiently clearly marked and maintained to be visible to motorists under all conditions of light and weather.

Consideration was given, on the score of expense, to the omission of the diagonal lines, but it was felt by the committee that this would further appreciably reduce the visibility. Its recommendations are that the present form of marking should be retained, but that fes an alternative to the diagonal lines the body of the crossing may be in a contrasting colour. Where blocks or studs are used they must comply with certain standards. The most important suggestion is tfcat all ■ crossings should be marked and lighted at night so as to be visible at a distance of 100 feet, and safety zones are recommended on crossings in the wider streets. Outside the 30 m.p.h. area crossings are not, in the opinion of the committee, generally necessary, and should be put down- only with the approval of the Minister, and subject to special sign-posting.

Crossings should be .indicated by standards at the kerb, in black and white bands, and parking or stopping should be prohibited within.2o feet of the near side of a crossing except for loading and unloading in the course of trade.