Zebra crossing ban not black and white

Zebra crossings have become part of the everyday streetscape.

They are a relatively low-cost measure which provide pedestrians with safer places to cross busy roads.

However, national statistics have shown there are a fairly high number of people killed on them each year — six in the last year alone, with 149 seriously injured.

So is there any merit in the suggestion by Fife councillor, John O’Brien that they should be removed from the roads and replaced with traffic light-regulated crossings?

Statistics emerged this week showing pedestrian accidents are becoming more prevalent, mainly due to the use of hand-held mobile devices and the resultant inattention paid to the users’ surroundings.

As the volume of traffic on the roads increases, there will be no reduction in such accidents.

The first consideration is the sheer cost of such an operation — a zebra crossing costs around £10,000 to install, £25,000 less than a pelican or puffin crossing. The other is whether it would make any difference. As critics have pointed out, there are many instances of drivers ignoring red lights at other types of crossing.

A blanket solution does not seem to be the answer but there is merit in considering whether zebra crossings have a place where vulnerable road users are common — on shopping thoroughfares and outside schools, for example.

It is worth investigating further.