WHAT CAN I DO WHEN A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IS

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What can I do when a pedestrian crossing is needed?

Pedestrian crossings

Crossing the street is an essential part of negotiating our built environment. The quality, provision or absence of crossing points affect people’s ability and desire to both walk and use their local streets. If crossing the street is difficult, dangerous, or involves walking further than necessary, they may simply choose not to make the journey or take unnecessary risks.

For blind and partially sighted people, safe crossing points are a vital component in the negotiation of their local communities. People with sight difficulties cannot effectively gauge when it is safe to cross a road. Consequently, they need crossing points that have audio beeps or tactile cones to tell them when it is safe to cross.


What is the problem?

The level and movement of traffic flow often fluctuates in communities, which may affect how safe a road is to cross. Changes in the flow of traffic can be affected by new building or road infrastructure developments. Blind and partially sighted people are often the first to be affected by increases in traffic. They can have their movements seriously restricted, which can negatively impact on their independence, confidence and reduce their opportunities to participate in their local community.

Department for Transport best practice guidance

The Department for Transport (DfT) states that local authorities and planners should provide facilities which enable disabled people to cross the road safely. This includes the provision of pedestrian crossings. Best practice guidance produced by the DfT ‘Provision and Assessment of Crossings’ states that the responsibility for the provision of pedestrian facilities lies with the local authority highways department. This guidance sets out recommendations and methods for local authorities to use when assessing the need for a crossing. The guidance states that an experienced engineer should assess the road and traffic flow when they receive a request that a crossing is needed. It also suggests that the provision of a crossing should be targeted at the needs of those people who experience most difficulty and danger. Therefore assessments must involve those most affected. The framework outlined in the guidance encourages informed decision making about whether a crossing is needed and if so which type. It suggests that the engineer gathers site information which once collected, forms the basis of an assessment record. This is then used to complete an assessment framework, which is in two parts; the assessment and then crossing option.

Recent case law such as Mohsan Ali vs. London Borough of Newham suggests that local authorities are expected to give proper consideration to such authoritative guidance.


http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2012/2970.html


http://www.leighday.co.uk/News/2012/November-2012/Decision-to-depart-from-national-guidance-on-tacti


Pedestrian Crossings and the law

Equality Act

Local authorities have a duty to promote and include disability equality in their work. The planning and installation of pedestrian crossings is no different. The Equality Act 2010 states that it is unlawful for a public authority to discriminate in the exercise of its public functions. This includes highways functions. Section 20 (4) requires that where a ‘physical feature’, such as an increase in traffic, puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to a person who is not disabled, an authority is required to take such steps as is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage.

Public Sector Equality Duty

As a public authority, local authorities are also subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty and are required to have "due regard" to equality outcomes in everything it does. In particular, the authorities are required to ensure that it eliminates discrimination, advances equality of opportunity and fosters good relations between, amongst others, disabled and non-disabled people.


What can you do?

If you have identified a need for a pedestrian crossing, you can:


  1. Gather evidence and report

You need to report the need of a crossing to your local authority highways department, giving details of where the crossing is needed and reasons why. Ask the department if the road or site has been assessed by a qualified engineer, and if it has, ask them when it was done and what the findings were. If the site has not been assessed, ask the department if it will send an engineer to assess it and ask to be part of the assessment process.

  1. Strength in numbers

Involve other people and groups who share your views and may be able to help and support your campaign.

Get together with others in your area to discuss your concerns and pinpoint what the main problems are.


Get in touch with other groups - parent groups, older peoples organisations, Deaf or other disabled people as well as blind and partially sighted people and see if they share your concerns.


  1. Use your voice

With the basis of a strong campaign set up, start taking action and getting your message to the people that need to hear it.

Write to your local councillor, outlining your concerns. They are crucial as the council makes the decisions on this issue. You can also write to the leader of the council.


Let your MP know about your concerns. Although MPs are not directly involved in the decisions which local authorities make, they still have an influence. If you are unsure who your MP is, please call us on 020 7391 2123 and we can find out for you.


Write a letter to your local newspaper and explain what you are worried about - they're likely to be interested in your concerns.


Find out if your local authority has any public meetings planned in your area, or if there is an access forum that you can talk to or be involved in to influence.


For more information contact your local RNIB campaigns team

RNIB have Regional Campaign Officers all over England (and campaigns teams in Wales and Scotland).

Telephone: 020 7391 2123

Email: [email protected]




MISSOULA BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD BOB WACHTEL BOARD
ONGOING RESEARCHES ON PEDESTRIAN LEG INJURIES ASSESSMENT PERFORMED BY
PEDESTRIAN EASEMENT THIS PEDESTRIAN EASEMENT IS MADE AS OF


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