"Is this Britain's most DANGEROUS zebra crossing?" (Daily Mail)

[markjay]

Is this Britain's most DANGEROUS zebra crossing?

The terrifying catalogue of accidents - four of them in the last year - were all at a crossing in Bradford, which was originally highlighted by Jeremy Vine on Twitter.

mol.im

Now, before anyone says anything, the car drivers are 100% in the wrong.

BUT it's important to note that some of these accidents involve cyclists (and running pedestrians). I have long maintained that cyclists riding in zebra crossings is very dangerous - they move too fast.

Motorists are used to pedestrians walking across and are easily caught-out by unexpectedly-fast moving objects. Add to that the sense of 'immunity' that cyclists will have while riding on a clearly-marked zebra crossing, and it's an accident waiting to happen.

Again, drivers should exercise better observation near zebra crossings, no doubt, but equally cyclists should be educated regarding the perils of riding in them.

And, obviously, there can be no justification whatsoever for hitting pedestrians walking across.

 

[optimusprime]

Well this has been going on for years , silly kids dont know how to use their bikes .After all it is a pedestrian crossing not a bike crossing get off and push it over the crossing ,.,.,full stop .

 

[BoristheBounce]

From the highway code.

Rule 81​

Do not ride across equestrian crossings, as they are for horse riders only. Do not ride across a pelican, puffin or zebra crossing. Dismount and wheel your cycle across.

Pretty clear to me!

 

[190]

Zebra crossing are rare to nonexistent where I live but I've noticed when I visit York that they still have them in Yorkshire. I've found they work very well on roads that are not too busy and visibility is good. Drivers have even shown excessive courtesy by stopping as you approach the crossing. When they work I would say they are superior to a pelican crossing as both pedestrians and drivers are held up for a shorter time. They obviously can't work to the benefit of both on a busy road.

Bradford is Bradford and it's no surprise to me that they don't work there. Too many aggressive drivers and careless pedestrians/cyclists.

 

[m80]

Is there a root cause that stops drivers recognising the crossing?

To many distractions perhaps.
Driving is the city with all the competition for advertising, lighting (sometimes bright LED) can certainly distract me from a priority.

 

[Gollom]

When I visited Vietnam (Saigon specifically) there are more mopeds than you can possibly imagine. A local showed me how to safely cross the road - just make eye contact, step out and proceed at a normal walking pace (and what a leap of faith - sic- THAT is!) The bikes then just swarm around you as they can anticipate where you will be. Never ever walk fast or run. Bizarrely it really does work!

 

[Petrol Pete]

All Zebra crossing are dangerous these days as both drivers/cyclist and pedestrians themselves are not paying attention.

I think the official description of a pedestrian is someone walking , not on any form of transport. I taught my kids to never ride their bikes on a pedestrian crossing but from what I have seen , I am a minority on this one.

 

[JHS]

It would of course help if pedestrians stopped at the curb, looked and walked when the drivers had stopped.
Looking at the clip, the female just crossed without looking or giving the driver a chance.

 

[SW18]

A good illustration of why zebra crossings are being replaced with traffic light crossings at a steady rate. And also why urban speed limits continue to be dropped to 20mph.

 

[HB]

I’m going to say something that may cause offence but I say what needs to be said.

Bradford, if you’ve had the experience of visiting is populated by a large group of ethnic people. The young ones have a tendency to drive like complete utter idiots in Golf Rs and Audi S3s. Rules or sensibility just don’t seem to matter to them. You will see racing at 3 figure speeds on the regular roads all the time. The middle aged and older ones just don’t have a clue re the rules of the HC and how they pass their tests, only god knows (all sorts of corrupt practices go on…)

So, behaviour like this at this crossing is nothing new. Tbh, most of the drivers there don’t even know that they have to stop there for pedestrians.

 

[Dryce]

A good illustration of why zebra crossings are being replaced with traffic light crossings at a steady rate. And also why urban speed limits continue to be dropped to 20mph.

Or .... make all crossings zebra crossings backed by some enforcement.

The 20mph urban speed limit is a statement of failure. It's a shrug that says that they can't improve the behaviour of pedestrians and drivers - so mimise the damage of the inevtiable outcome.

I would add that we see a huge number of overcomplicated failurs on our road system:

- bus lanes that cause traffic to congest and undertake addiiobal manouevring and merging and encourage undertaking.
- too many cyclists who are selfish or reckless
- 20mph limits that bring cyclists, cars, and buses into greater proximity while moving
- signage and road markings that are cluttered and confusing
- mini roundabouts that are widely misunderstood and accident magnets

Put me in charge and I'd strip it all back. Make *everybody* liable for the safety of others (and that includes cyclists and pedestrians). I'd get rid of most bus lanes. I'd keep 20mph limits on side streets but not on through routes. I'd enforce the 30mph limits more rigorously. I'd fine councils that deliberately make traffic light sequencibg obstruct traffic flow. And I'd have a better network of cycle lanes.

 

[Bellow]

Not one of those hit were looking in the direction from which the danger arrived.
The motorists all appeared to be remiss in one aspect or another, but were visible had the pedestrians and cyclists looked for them approaching from their right.

 

[SW18]

Or .... make all crossings zebra crossings backed by some enforcement.

The 20mph urban speed limit is a statement of failure. It's a shrug that says that they can't improve the behaviour of pedestrians and drivers - so mimise the damage of the inevtiable outcome.

I would add that we see a huge number of overcomplicated failurs on our road system:

- bus lanes that cause traffic to congest and undertake addiiobal manouevring and merging and encourage undertaking.
- too many cyclists who are selfish or reckless
- 20mph limits that bring cyclists, cars, and buses into greater proximity while moving
- signage and road markings that are cluttered and confusing
- mini roundabouts that are widely misunderstood and accident magnets

Put me in charge and I'd strip it all back. Make *everybody* liable for the safety of others (and that includes cyclists and pedestrians). I'd get rid of most bus lanes. I'd keep 20mph limits on side streets but not on through routes. I'd enforce the 30mph limits more rigorously. I'd fine councils that deliberately make traffic light sequencibg obstruct traffic flow. And I'd have a better network of cycle lanes.

Many fair points there! I'd buy into that. I guess the only flaw in the plan may be achieving behavioural change. Some road users just don't get it, sadly.

 

[Dryce]

Many fair points there! I'd buy into that. I guess the only flaw in the plan may be achieving behavioural change. Some road users just don't get it, sadly.

I forgot to add - I'd have 5 yearly driving tests to renew licences - at least update on theory test and hazard perception - plus some additional pub;ic information campaigns.

I'd also make councils pass on all fines and charges for bus lane, congestion, and LEZ / ULEZ zones to central government. If they think these things are for safety or the environment then they should be tested on that by getting no financial benefit from them

 

[SW18]

I forgot to add - I'd have 5 yearly driving tests to renew licences - at least update on theory test and hazard perception - plus some additional pub;ic information campaigns.

I'd also make councils pass on all fines and charges for bus lane, congestion, and LEZ / ULEZ zones to central government. If they think these things are for safety or the environment then they should be tested on that by getting no financial benefit from them

The only flaw I can see now is that these are not vote-winning ideas.

 

[StMarks]

I forgot to add - I'd have 5 yearly driving tests to renew licences - at least update on theory test and hazard perception - plus some additional pub;ic information campaigns.

I'd also make councils pass on all fines and charges for bus lane, congestion, and LEZ / ULEZ zones to central government. If they think these things are for safety or the environment then they should be tested on that by getting no financial benefit from them

I'm also a firm advocate for the ongoing periodic re-testing of all drivers.
It would reduce the tendency towards those bad habits ( we're all guilty, admit it everyone).
It would ensure that mature drivers were kept up to date with ongoing changes.
It could create a revenue stream for Gov'
It could reduce the huge society costs that result from traffic accidents.
It could increase the demand for instructors / testers creating employment opportunities.

I'm sure I thought of more, but those are some of he advantages that I considered made this a worthwhile consideration.

 

[ToeKnee]

Talking off retests, as a condition of my hackney licence if I get two speeding tickets in a 12 month period I'm considered to be a bad driver and need to redo my driving test to continue driving a taxi.

 

[190]

This thread is about pedestrian crossing that don't work to the extent of being dangerous. Here's another example of the folly of continually pandering to cyclists and putting them on a pedestal. I'm afraid I would not be one of the 62% pedestrians who deferred to cyclists on a marked pedestrian crossing as the Highway Code is clear that riders should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross and MUST give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing.”

Of the 31% of cyclist that gave way it did not necessarily mean that cyclists stopped to let pedestrians cross, in many cases cyclists merely slowed down or manoeuvred around pedestrians”.

The last bit about an awareness campaign to educate cyclist s is surely a joke, they know perfectly well they are in the wrong and the only solution is to apply the law and prosecute them.

More floating bus stops to be built despite warnings cyclists do not wait for pedestrians

Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) were repeatedly warned that the majority of cyclists refuse to stop or slow down at zebra crossings, The Telegraph can reveal.

Independent researchers working for the London mayor’s transport authority revealed how as few as 31 per cent of cyclists obeyed the Highway Code by giving way to pedestrians at a zebra crossing. But, 62 per cent of pedestrians who had the right of way let cyclists pass.

The analysts even recommended “some form of awareness campaign to highlight the requirement for cyclists to stop at zebra crossings” because so few did.