Zebra crossings not safe option for Taupo Quay
5 September 2014
Wanganui District Council Operations Chair Cr Ray Stevens today said zebra crossings are not a safe option for pedestrians on Taupo Quay.
Responding to Cr Rob Vinsen’s comments (Wanganui Chronicle, 4 September 2014), Cr Stevens said advice from professional traffic safety engineers is that a raised platform to slow traffic is the best option to assist pedestrians to cross Taupo Quay.
“Taupo Quay is currently being transformed from a vehicle dominated area to one that is attractive and enjoyable for people,” Cr Stevens said.
“Part of this transformation is a requirement to create a slow speed environment with traffic calming. Raised platforms, also called ‘courtesy crossings’, with kerb extensions are being created at the intersections to assist pedestrians to cross the road. The road width for pedestrians to cross has been reduced from 14m to 7m.
“Our qualified traffic safety engineer has highlighted the issues of zebra crossings and advised that there is national guidance to use alternative forms of pedestrian facilities to zebra crossings. The Council employs professional staff to provide advice and ensure that we are meeting legal and best practice requirements.”
Cr Stevens said there were safety issues with zebra crossings, particularly on busy thoroughfares.
“Pedestrians using a zebra crossing can become complacent because they have the legal right of way and walk out in front of vehicles, assuming vehicle drivers will notice them and stop,” Cr Stevens said.
“If a crash occurs it may be 100 percent the fault of the car driver for not stopping but it is the pedestrian who is injured.
“Only last week a pedestrian was killed on a zebra crossing in Palmerston North which highlights the danger of these crossings on busy roads. It doesn’t make sense to install a zebra crossing at the Taupo Quay-Drews Avenue intersection where there is turning traffic and a busy thoroughfare.”
Mayor Annette Main said “councillors are not experts on traffic safety, and the advice we have received is that zebra crossings only work at the specific location of the crossing with the rest of the road remaining a car-dominated area. Not all pedestrians will choose to walk to the zebra crossing and then cross the road but will take the shortest route to their destination. Drivers then become frustrated that pedestrians are not using the provided facility, so a better solution is to slow down the traffic and make it easier for pedestrians to make sensible decisions about the best time to cross”.
“Based on our experts’ advice, it is clear that it does not take a serious injury or fatality to get a zebra crossing installed; in fact it takes a serious injury or fatality to get a zebra crossing removed,” Mayor Main said.
“Safety is clearly our priority and, as laypeople, councillors need to be guided by professional staff who are experts in road traffic safety.”
Additional information
About two years ago the Wanganui District Council removed the zebra crossing in front of the War Memorial hall forecourt and constructed the first raised platform within the city centre. While these are relatively new to our city centre, many other cities have introduced them as standard practice. Palmerston North, New Plymouth, and Napier all use these facilities.
While the safety deficiencies of zebra crossings are known, it is sometimes difficult to remove or change these facilities because of the community’s desire to have them. The pedestrian crossing was removed at the intersection of Alma Road and York Street and replaced with a kea crossing. The school and local organisations are petitioning the Council to reinstate the zebra crossing which would reduce the current safety level. Councils throughout New Zealand have also removed zebra crossings only to reinstate them at a later date due to community pressure.
The zebra crossing at the Wanganui East shopping centre is a particular hazard because of the high speed environment and lack of visibility. The zebra crossing at the Somme Parade-Dublin Street roundabout, where there is a multi-lane road, would also not be installed under the current standards.