Crossing Facilities for Cyclists and Pedestrians
SWOV Fact Sheet
Source: Institute for Road Safety Research (SWOV)
More than half of all severe crashes (with deaths or in-patients) in which cyclists or pedestrians are involved occur while crossing the road. An estimated 32% of these crashes occur on crossing facilities, in spite of the huge numbers of people crossing there (data 2006). Crossing locations are, therefore, relatively safe. There are a large number of different designs and layouts, which causes a lack of clarity among those crossing, but also among approaching drivers. What is expected of them? Crossing facilities must be understandable for everybody, especially by means of an unequivocal layout. For this reason there are provisional layout requirements for pedestrian crossing facilities according to Sustainable Safety. There should be only one rule at facilities used by both pedestrians and cyclists: both have priority, neither have priority, or both have traffic lights. Where they do have priority, this must be indicated by triangular priority marking and by extended speed bumps to ensure a low approaching speed. Crossing facilities at crossroads that are only for cyclists should be raised. What precisely makes a crossing facility safe and understandable needs more research.
