Confusing traffic lights led to policeman’s death
CONFUSING traffic lights at a busy junction where a policeman was killed are putting pedestrians at risk, a coroner has warned.
Sergeant Paul Frear died in hospital after he was hit by a car as he walked across the A457 Tollhouse Way, in Smethwick.
The married father-of-two, 45, was walking to work on September 21 last year.
Black Country coroner Joanne Lees said more deaths could follow if improvements are not made to the area.
The tragedy happened on the northbound carriageway, near a set of traffic lights at the A457’s junction with the B4135 Rolfe Street. Footage captured Sgt Frear waiting at the crossing area, where the A457 splits into three marked lanes – lanes one and two for vehicles continuing straight on and lane three for those turning right into Rolfe Street.
Traffic in lane three – immediately next to Sgt Frear – had come to a stop due to a red filter traffic light directly above him.
But traffic in the other two lanes was still moving, as directed by a green light. Sgt Frear walked into lane two when the pedestrian lights next to him were red and was then struck by the car. Ms Lees said: “The evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion, there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.”
But she was concerned it was “not obvious” to pedestrians that they should not be looking just to their left when crossing. There have also been two previous incidents at the same location.
Ms Lees said: “Whilst the current road layout may be legal, the death of Sgt
Frear highlights the safety issue for pedestrians present at this junction crossing from both sides and highlights that the signage for pedestrians is not clear enough and there is a risk of further deaths now and in the future.”
A collision investigator, who visited the scene, said in a police report: “I do find the layout very confusing – with the right-turn filter lane not being separated from the main carriageway, a pedestrian is faced with stationary traffic. If a pedestrian chose to look up to their right they would be presented with a red traffic light and the only indication that it is still not safe to cross is the pedestrian controls to their immediate left.”