
As a qualified Risk Assessor I was concerned to read in the Parish Council Newsletter that the intention is to make all the crossings in the village have pedestrian priority.
The first edition of the Parish Council Newsletter stated "There are short-term measures which the Parish Council and Cheshire East hope to implement immediately after the bypass is opened, such as mini-roundabouts, to change traffic priorities, and alterations to the pelican crossing lights in favour of pedestrians."
It would seem to me that it is common sense that drivers seeing pedestrians waiting by the kerbside are far more likely to be aware that the lights are going to change and can therefore prepare to stop. If the lights change immediately on activation by the pedestrian then the driver is at a great disadvantage, particularly in poor weather. Equally, as can be the case, if the pedestrian believes that the lights are going to change immediately then they may step out into the road before the vehicles have had time to come to a full halt.
The latter event I have witnessed many times at the crossing by the Alderley Edge Girls School and the Total Garage. I have seen cars unable to stop as pedestrians walk straight in to the road as soon as they have pressed the button, and even vehicles brush the legs of those on the crossing as they pull up to a halt. This does not occur on Ryleys Lane, where the crossing lights give priority to motorists.
I would recommend that all lights in the village give priority to the vehicles on the road, and thus reduce the risk of an accident taking place.
This a member post from Graeme Simister.
Comments
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That would mean less cars in the town to possibly knock people over...........how does that weigh up to the possibility of more accidents at the crossings?
It would be a much safer option if the crossings gave drivers the opportunity to see in advance that pedestrians wish to cross so that they can slow down, rather than them having no warning, as soon as a pedestrian wishes to cross. This is particularly important as two of the crossings are outside of schools.
There once was a zebra crossing (remember them?) by the Post Office and Costa - just where people actually *want* to cross!
Where lights are set up to give the drivers priority there can often be a long delay for pedestrians, especially if someone has recently crossed, as the aim is to keep traffic flowing as freely as possible.
It seems to me that the Council is entirely correct in establishing the principle - following the opening of the bypass - that the lights should favour pedestrians, even if that means delaying drivers.
I agree with the previous comment about the need to review the location of the crossings - this would probably be a much more useful safety measure.
a) at main school times, outside AESG they change fairly quickly (not instantaneously, but fairly quickly). At non school times, they change dependent on when the last time they were used; ie they favour the flow of traffic, rather than the pedestrian.
b) On Ryleys Lane, they change as AESG.
C) At RBS/Heyes Lane, and at Martins Newsagents they change in line with demand, but favour motorists
The Parish Council would like all the lights to be on demand rather than at intervals favouring the motorists. The idea is that the village - post by-pass - ought to be a haven for pedestrians and traffic nuisance at a minimum.
To have lights changing differently depending on the time of day is not practical. Are they scheduled differently during the school holidays? I think not.