Position of Crossings

[EvianBaby]

Why is it pedestrian crossings always seem to be on corners and right at the exit point of roundabouts? It seems like an odd place to put them to me as drivers will be busy checking what all the other cars around them are doing and perhaps not so much what's going on on the pavement.

[ChuckFickens]

I've often wondered that too. this is one near to me...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

3 crossings just off a double roundabout! there have been countless close calls with drivers not spotting people on the crossing as they come round the corner over the years.

[Frank97]

Agreed, there seems to be some sort of obsession round here with making sure every roundabout or set of traffic lights has a crossing at every exit.

[ojread2]

Can only think of one near me and the speed limit is 30mph so plenty of time to see it if you're not going to fast to do so

[ChuckFickens]

I'll try that link again :)
http://maps.google.co...0284&t=h&z=19&vpsrc=6

[Gromit]

Just like cars, people walking prefer to go in straightish lines.

In ChuckFickens example, someone walking North to south has a minor detour to keep going in the direction they wish to go. If the crossing was a quarter of a mile down the road on the left, then no one would use it.

If drivers are that distracted on exiting or approaching roundabouts, then they should not be behind the wheel of a car.

[Gromit]

They Might be Giants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jObL8vLz2Hs

[AlBags]

Councils probably try to get public favour by placing them where pedestrians have tended to get run over previously!
Stupidly positioned, some of them. However, roads are changed and areas modernised .. but the crossings stay unchanged. Perhaps that's it.

[EvianBaby]

I've got a few like that near me Chuck and they are all hugely busy roads day and night, it never quite made sense. Especially when, going by the flowers on the railings, there does seem to have been problems with people making it all the way across the road in one piece.

You could have a point Al. There is a habit of petitioning for a crossing to be put in when someone gets knocked over.

Are people really that lazy that they wouldn't walk up the road a few more meters Gromit?

[vivandorron]

It does seem strange that pedestrian crossings are often positioned at exit points of roundabouts..It has something to do with compliance of road traffic acts, whereby pedestrians have the right of way at road junctions. :-

http://www.direct.gov...Highwaycode/DG_070332

Ron.

[whiskeryron]

How many of you knew that Chuck is an Essex lad who lives in Braintree near Coggeshall Road ?

W Ron.

[EvianBaby]

From what I can see Ron that states only if they are already crossing. I can't really see an explanation as to why they are where they are.

I think Chuck has mentioned before that he's an Essex geezer ;)

[Old_Geezer]

I wish they'd put the crossing nearer the roundabout exit near by me. It has been positioned half way down the road between 2 roundabout so no matter which you are at, you are expected to walk a large distance out of your way in order to cross and then walk back again. To make matters worse it is not only after where 2 lanes join and drivers are trying to swap lanes without hitting each other, and so are not as concentrated on the crossing as they ought to be, but also, in the evening, the low sun blinds them anyway.

[joko]

BEcause its where people will cross regardless. It is stupid I've often thought that myself when stopped in the middle of a rab...drivers are busy negotiating the rab. The to be fced with an immediate stop.
They should just let wlakers wait for a gap like on every other road

[dtgblue]

People (drivers) should be forced to abandon their vehicles once a month to see what it is like to be a pedestrian or bicycle rider, perhaps then they would understand what selfish bastards in their cars are like.

[EvianBaby]

Dtg - I am often a pedestrian and yes car drivers can be arses but this is noticable as a driver too. It's also possible for pedestrians to be completely brainless at times. But, I don't think my question is suggesting pedestrians are a problem, I'm trying to stop them getting splattered.

OG - don't you think it would be better if if the crossings were moved up a few meters past the exits so that the drivers have stopped needing to concentrate on other cars so much and can pay a bit more attention to other things, like people crossing. I don't mean quite so far up as you say you have to go.

[whiskeryron]

Isn't it a great pity that there's not enough money about in order that pedestrians & vehicles could be completely segregated by building more foot bridges (ramps) over main roads ?

W Ron.

[rov1100]

I thought it would be fairly obvious. It is at the point where traffic is slowest.
However I find most crossings occur before the roundabout.

[joko]

lol rov... is that not dependant on the direction you are travelling? and the exit and entrance to the RAB you take...?