Harrogate Borough Council
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Road Safety - Pedestrians
The Highway Code says:-
- Pavements or footpaths should be
used if provided. Where possible, avoid walking next to the kerb
with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road,
look both ways first.
- If there is no
pavement or footpath, walk on the
right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic.
You should take extra care and
- be prepared to walk in single file, especially on narrow roads or in poor light
- keep close to the side of the road.
- Help other road users to see you. When it is dark, use reflective materials (e.g. armbands, sashes, waistcoats and jackets), which can be seen, by drivers using headlights, up to three times as far away as non-reflective materials Wear or carry something light coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight conditions.
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- Young
children should not be out alone on the pavement or
road (see Rule 7). When taking children out, walk between them and
the traffic and hold their hands firmly. Strap very young children
into push-chairs or use reins.
- At a
junction. When crossing the road, look out for traffic
turning into the road, especially from behind you.
- Pedestrian Safety
Barriers. Where there are barriers, cross the road
only at the gaps provided for pedestrians. Do not climb over the
barriers or walk between them and the road.Many people are injured every year
crossing at the side of or within 100 metres of a recognised
crossing point.
- Tactile
paving. Small raised studs which can be felt underfoot
may be used to advise blind or partially sighted people that they
are approaching a crossing point with a dropped kerb.
- Bus and cycle lanes. Take care when
crossing these lanes as traffic may be moving faster than in the
other lanes, or against the flow of traffic.
- Routes shared with cyclists. Cycle
tracks may run alongside footpaths, with a dividing line
segregating the two. Keep to the section for pedestrians. Take
extra care where cyclists and pedestrians share the same path
without separation
- Parked vehicles. If you have to
cross between parked vehicles, use the outside edges of the
vehicles as if they were the kerb. Stop and make sure you can see
all around and that the traffic can see you. Never cross the road
in front of, or behind, any vehicle with its engine running,
especially a large vehicle, as the driver may not be able to see
you.
- Reversing vehicles. Never cross behind a vehicle which is reversing, showing white reversing lights or sounding a warning.
Crossings
At all crossings
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When using any type of crossing you should
- always check that the traffic has stopped before you start to cross or push a pram onto a crossing
- always cross between the studs or over the zebra markings. Do not cross at the side of the crossing or on the zig-zag lines, as it can be dangerous.
- School Crossing Patrols
Zebra crossings.
Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you
start to cross. Vehicles will need more time when the road is
slippery. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone
has moved onto the crossing. Wait until traffic has stopped from
both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Keep looking
both ways, and listening, in case a driver or rider has not seen
you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped.
Where there is an island in the middle of a zebra crossing,
wait on the island before you cross the second half of the road -
it is a separate crossing.
At traffic lights.
There may be special signals for pedestrians. You should only
start to cross the road when the green figure shows. If you have
started to cross the road and the green figure goes out, you should
still have time to reach the other side, if you do not delay. If no
pedestrian signals have been provided, watch carefully and do not
cross until the traffic lights are red and the traffic has stopped.
Keep looking and check for traffic that may be turning the corner.
Remember that traffic lights may let traffic move in some lanes
while traffic in other lanes has stopped.
Pelican crossings
These are signal-controlled crossings operated by pedestrians.
Push the control button to activate the traffic signals. When the
red figure shows, do not cross. When a steady green figure shows,
check the traffic has stopped then cross with care. When the green
figure begins to flash you should not start to cross. If you have
already started you should have time to finish crossing
safely.
At some older pelican crossings there is a bleeping sound to
indicate to blind or partially-sighted people when the steady green
figure is showing, and there may be a tactile signal to help
deafblind people. These are gradually being replaced by puffin
crossings.
| At traffic lights and pelican
crossings Cross with care Do not cross |
At pelicans only Do not start to cross |
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Puffin and toucan crossings
These differ from pelican crossings as there is no flashing
green figure phase. On puffin crossings the red and green figures
are above the control box on your side of the road. Press the
button and wait for the green figure to show. On toucan crossings
cyclists are allowed to ride across the road.
When the crossings on each side of the central refuge are not
in line they should be treated as two separate crossings.
Information taken from The Highway Code. © Crown
copyright 2004.
Requests for Pedestrian Crossing Facilities
All requests for pedestrian crossings will be considered
in accordance with the adopted assessment method for pedestrian
crossing facilities. Any individual or group can
request improved pedestrian crossing facilities. These may include
improvements to allow easy access for wheelchair users, some
ambulant disabled people, or 'blister' paving for those with visual
impairments. In addition, Harrogate Borough Council will
monitor and identify any accident sites requiring pedestrian
facilities.
If there is a particular road crossing which does not have a
dropped kerb and is causing you difficulty, and you would like the
Council to consider installing one, please complete and return this
form:
Walk Out Well Scheme
If you are over 50 years of age and wish to be come fitter,
more active and mobile, you could join the WOW
scheme.
Led by the Countryside Agency, The British Heart foundation
and Age Concern, the aim of the scheme is simple to get more people
who are aged 50 and over, walking instead of driving or using
buses. Particularly welcome are those who have little
exercise.
The walks take place in local communities, on routes that have
been carefully researches. The lengths of the walks vary to suit
people more or less used to walking but all aim to be inclusive.
The walks use recognised footpaths, so no hiking boots are needed!
The focus is on having fun and taking exercise It is also a good
way to meet new people if you want to expand your social
circle.
Currently only 30% of men and 20% of women take enough
exercise to keep their hearts healthy.
Walking is one of the easiest, convenient and inexpensive
forms of exercise. By encouraging people to take more exercise, the
scheme hopes to improve fitness and health and well as
opportunities for social interaction.
At present there are walks and activities in Harrogate, Craven
and Hambleton.
For more information contact
Age Concern North Yorkshire,
49 East Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5LQ
Telephone 01423 502253 or email acnyorks1@clara.co.uk
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