Organisation
University of the West England
Amount awarded
£117,383
Completed
2023
Uploaded to Knowledge Centre
5 June 2023
This research project identified two side road crossing designs that encourage drivers to give way to people crossing and waiting to cross – as required by the Highway Code since January 2022.
The project was carried out by academics at the University of the West England (UWE), with funding provided by The Road Safety Trust.
The researchers set out to understand the impacts of enhanced side road designs that both increase priority and reduce risk for people walking and cycling. It is particularly significant because of changes to the Highway Code that came into effect from 29 January 2022.
These changes mean drivers turning in or out of a side road should now give way not only to pedestrians and cyclists who are crossing, but also to waiting pedestrians and approaching cyclists.
The research team from UWE’s Centre for Transport and Society, observed behaviour at different types of side road crossing and revealed two designs where drivers were more likely to give way:
- Marked Priority crossings with so-called ‘parallel crossings’ that have a zebra for pedestrians and priority markings for the cycle track crossing.
- Design Priority crossings, also called continuous footways, where priority is reinforced by the layout and surface materials.
With both of these enhancements, people crossing did not have to yield to drivers in approximately 90% of interactions compared with 43% of interactions at conventional junctions.
The researchers found that users realise the importance of Marked Priority and Design Priority enhancements being implemented consistently and appropriately across the country in order to minimise ambiguity and confusion.
Click the link below to view the full report:
https://www.roadsafetytrust.org.uk/funded-projects/university-of-the-west-of-england