Councils warned to improve pedestrian crossings

COUNCILS NEED to ensure that older people, the disabled and parents with prams have got enough time to cross the road when using pedestrian crossings, health officials have said.

The number of road crossings, and their accessibility, may not meet people’s needs and can put people off from going out and about, according to a draft guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).

Nice’s guidance on encouraging physical activity in local communities called on councils to make sure that people with limited mobility are given enough time to cross safely when using pedestrian crossings.

The guideline states: “The environment can make it difficult for some groups to be active. For example, older people and others with limited mobility may find it difficult to cross the road in the time allowed by crossing signals.”

It also calls on councils to ensure that those with limited mobility – including the elderly, frail, disabled, others who need mobility aids and people using buggies or prams for transporting children – have enough accessible crossings.

Authorities should also ensure that crossings have dropped pavements for wheelchair users or textured ground for people with visual impairments.

All crossings should have an audible beep and tactile rotating cones – which are used so visually impaired people know when it is safe to cross, Nice added.

Footways should be free from “unauthorised and unnecessary obstructions” including pavement parking where it is not permitted, the guideline states.

And councils should ensure they have consistent policies about permanent or temporary obstructions on footways – including vending boards, bins, parked cars, and street furniture such as chairs and hanging baskets. The updated guideline, which is being put out for consultation, makes a series of other recommendations for councils.