In this paper the safety of Zebra crossings, which are uncontrolled, and Pelican crossings, which are signal controlled is reviewed against a background of the development of each crossing type. The safety of Pelican and Zebra crossings has been compared in several studies over the past 20 years with few clear conclusions emerging. Many Zebra crossings were converted to Pelican crossings in the 1970's as a result of a Department of the Environment report on a sample of conversions which showed an average 60 per cent reduction in accidents. Later studies showed no clear safety benefit in conversion. A recent review of performance of Pelican and Zebra crossings in Kent concluded that the conversion of a Zebra crossing to a Pelican crossing reduced accidents. Models of accident rates for Pelican and Zebra crossings are inconclusive in determining relative safety but suggest that, for Pelican crossings, increased pedestrian flow has a relatively small effect on accident frequency does not increase with pedestrian flow. The evidence which is available suggests that the use of Zebra crossings at sites with moderate to high pedestrian flow would not necessarily increase accident frequency. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting