This paper describes the work carried out in Traffic Policy Division (and earlier in Roads Engineering Division) to review policy on the general provision of signal facilities for pedestrians. The revision was intended to rationalise the operation of pedestrian facilities at both signalled junctions and 'pelican' type crossings, tackle the reasons for the relatively low usage of pedestrian stages at junctions and improve conditions for all types of pedestrians, including disabled and elderly, thereby making them safer and reducing the harassment and intimidation that pedestrians feel when using crossing facilities. The paper reviews the perceived problems with the existing niques and proposes fairly radical technical solutions. The signal operation provides for a fixed green man period, a variable 'clearance' period which is extended, using infra-red pedestrian detectors, as pedestrians continue to cross the road. Kerbside pedestrian detectors check, after a pedestrian call has been entered, whether pedestrians are actually present and delete the call if the pedestrian has left. The pedestrian signals are mounted on the nearside of the carriageway. The strategy does not make use of flashing signals to pedestrians or traffic. Two trial sites have been equipped with these modifications and behavioural studies are in progress. The results of these studies are not part of this paper although the operation of the sites is described. The self-proving circuits are discussed together with the extension of the proposals to mid-link pedestrian crossings of the 'pelican' type.
Abstract