Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Do you mean public consultation processes to install new crossings? Or do you mean the collision rates around them generally? I think a while ago zebra crossings used to average one minor collision a year which is why we tried not to do them if there wasn’t a history of collisions or a PV2 value which showed significant conflict between traffic and pedestrians being present. If you put a zebra where there’s no collisions you can ironically end up increasing the collision rate purely by attracting increased crossing movements to that location. The DfT line is that if there isn’t sufficient pedestrian demand then traffic got used to rarely ever stopping for the crossing and effectively stopped seeing it which led to violations. However, if there are pedestrians but not enough traffic demand, pedestrians tended to ignore the crossing and cross either side of it which also raised safety issues. Zebras actually had the same collision rate as light controlled crossings, but light controlled crossings are better for busier, higher speed roads as well as being more helpful for the visually impaired. Zebras are very useful where pedestrian crossing demand is suppressed as they simply can’t attempt crossing or where collisions have occurred though. Does this help?
We have two of these but we still use them regularly. Are they really called the Dimms Family? I assume this is a name from long ago. How old even are these ramp sets? I didn’t realise other people had them.
Well, obviously I need to give a mention to the Shiny Side Up Partnership here in case people aren’t aware of their range of motorbike/driver road safety posters for highway use – https://shinysideup.co.uk/. However, as you already know about them, permanent signs intending to warn inform or direct traffic are generally going to come under the TSRGD. I have a lot of experience in getting signs Special Authorisation from the DfT and they generally won’t consider new signs when there are existing signs in the TSRGD which would cover the same ground, particular poster design style signs. However, I spoke to them years ago about the status of permanent ‘Thank you for driving carefully’ signs which don’t warn, inform or direct traffic and weren’t in the TSRGD and they said they weren’t traffic signs, but actually needed planning permission. I then went through planning authorities in my area and got them to agree that they were ‘Adverts Benefitting From Deemed Consent’, i.e. adverts the highway authority are allowed to erect for highway purposes providing they aren’t illuminated and are below a certain size. I think I then went down the path with the same planning authorities of having non-permanent posters (e.g. things like the SSUP posters) also deemed as this. Permanent signs on roundabouts inviting sponsors to fund highway maintenance of said roundabouts probably also fall in this category too. Hope this helps.
