Living Streets has commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to undertake research to consider the appropriateness of the current method of calculating the time needed for pedestrians to cross a road at signal controlled pedestrian crossings both stand alone and at junctions. Musselwhite et al (2011) refer to the World Health Organisation (WHO, 1999) saying that maintaining mobility in later life is important for maintaining health and wellbeing, affording older people1 close contact with family and friends, enabling access to services, shops and facilities, to engage in sports and leisure and to enhance connectivity and inclusion while remaining actively engaged with society. Furthermore, both physical and mental health benefits are derived from the activity. Indeed, the opposite also holds — a lack of mobility will lead to both physical and mental deterioration. It therefore follows that the maintenance of mobility is seen as good and to be encouraged. Safety is also a concern. In the UK, older people represent around 16% of the population, yet around 43% of all pedestrians killed (DfT, 2009). The removal of barriers to this continuing mobility has to be addressed in order to provide encouragement to staying mobile. Much has been achieved over the last 20 years or so and the 1995 disability act puts a responsibility particularly on local highway authorities to cater for the less able-bodied people in society. One aspect that has been highlighted as a potential problem many times over the years, but not acted upon in any substantive way in the UK, is the time required for pedestrians to cross the road at either a pedestrian facility at a signal controlled junction, or at stand-alone signal controlled pedestrian crossings. This report considers the need for and the implications of changing the signal timings to allow pedestrians more time to cross. (Author/publisher)
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