Don't know if these are common or not, certainly not in my area.
Came across my first one the other day, in one of my town's more 'no-go-'type areas.
But I thought what a brilliant idea it was, and wondered if this could really be effective on at least causing traffic to slow down at pedestrian cross-points.
Surely if the pedestrian crossing is built on a speed bump (table?) then the potential for motorists to speed over these is very much reduced?
I know how much opposition there is to speed bumps etc (which I happen to disagree with - the opposition not the bumps) - but maybe if all legitimate pedestrian crossings had something similar then it would help to increase motorists' awareness and consideration at these points, maybe purely to protect their own car from damage but even so wouldn't it be a good thing?
|
I have one near me thats installed on a busy main village road, its awful and they should be banned. They do nothing but damage cars and create noise.
To control speeds intelligent speed humps are needed that only activate if the car is actually speeding or a red light system thats holds back speeding cars.
|
Before I left London it was becoming common for local authorities to to put a pavement level platform across the mouth of a junction. They did not have legal status as a pedestrian crossing, but many pedestrians, the young and the elderly in particular, thought they had and would walk merrily out in front of vehicles causing quite a few exchanges of views with drivers. They also made it murder to emerge at a busy blind junction as you had to gas it up the ramp and slow it down the drop just at the time you needed maximum low speed control.
Without wishing to have a rant, it did seem the more left wing the local council, the more of these such devices appeared. They seem to think safety is enhanced by irritating motorists.
|
Those cobbled strips on the entrance to side road, so beloved by left wing London Councils are a real hazard on a motorbike.
Turning left in you have no camber on the side road plus an upward slope so have to slow down excessively and risk being rear-ended.
If you don't slow down quite as much you are straight onto cobbles (which in other places were got shot of years ago as being dangerous).
Coming out of the side road you are braking on cobbles on a downhill slope.
NOT well thought through.
|
|
|
Tom,
This is precisely what a new scheme in Watford is intending to do actually across the entrance to my road (a 65 house cul-de-sac). Apparently it is to introduce an 'obvious crossing point for pedestrians'. Clearing they have not been reading their Tutfy Code - a good place to cross is now apparently at a junction, where they also are given a false image of a right of way? Not to mention, as you pointed out, the excessive slowing down before turning into, and difficult low speed control when turning out of my road that will be required in future.
When i turned up to their exhibition of the scheme proposals last year (much to their dismay - they'll have to use even smaller signs next time) i managed to influence the project engineer enough to make him admit that they would cause more harm than good and should be removed, then hey presto they are still there in the final plans. Another road with this silly raised crossing near me has 6 houses in it, 100 yards from the junction. Is a table crossing there REALLY necessary???
|
|
|
|
|
I don't mind speed bumps. I have fun screeching away from one and slamming the brakes on for the next. They don't harm my car as I drive over each one really slowly. But I consder it a challenge to see how much speed I can get between one and the next. I managed 67mph down one street the other day.
Just kidding. Of course I drive responsibly in urban areas, much more so than I do on the open road. I hate speed bumps though. I don't see any difference between speed bumps and potholes. They fill in one and create another. Crazy.
As for zebra crossings - I guess they're the only legitimate place to put a speed bump that I can think of. Well, certain zebra crossings anyway.
|
|
I've come across these but I have to ask what the point is. If a driver has missed the flashing beacons and road markings, it's too late to slow down for pedestrians when reminded to do so by the hump.
|
We have two in our village. I take WS' point but they do slow traffic in the village. However, there are muppets who think that since the hump is flush with the kerb, this means it is a convenient place to park without having to bump up a kerb while they nip into the shops or to the post box!
|
|
|
|
Either that, or you get reminded by the bump as you go over a pedestrian.
|
|
|
|
|
#ifdef _Common_Sense_Off
What a good idea!
We'll install ramps each side of the crossings so that any vehicle/pedestrian impact will be higher on the body. That should improve safety, especially for kids.
It will also improve vehicle control in pedestrian areas.
Let's go for it!
#endif
The people who dream up these ideas should be made personally responsible, like anyone in the private sector would be.
Kevin...
PS.
>Steve O, the Perry Hall Road school would really benefit from speed bumps, since so few >motorists obey the 20mph limit.
A highly visible cop with a radar gun stood right at the start of the 20mph zone once or twice a month would cure that.
|
>>Random, known checks by police in such areas might perhaps help
Hello?
|
Hello HF.
I've only just read thi post and if what you're on about is a zebra crossing on a speed bump then the idea, in theory would work. But could someone tell the council up here that putting them on 3 exits to a roundabout isn't a clever idea - not least at school kicking out time.
Thanks
Adam
|
HF popping in *very* quietly to whisper to Cockle that she checked out one of the said Zebra Bumps tonight - and saw the beacons. They weren't flashing though - does that exonerate me? Anyway don't tell anyone.
And to JBJ - 'mental' image is just about right, I fear.
Adam - yes that's what I was on about and I agree, in my opinion they should be sufficiently far enough away from roundabouts and any other junctions, especially if they are supposedly to help schoolkids.
HF
|
|
|
|
