Petition on New Puffin Crossing Facility, Ringwood Road

BOROUGH OF POOLE

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – THURSDAY 14 JUNE 2007

REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

PETITION ON NEW PUFFIN CROSSING FACILITY, RINGWOOD ROAD

1. Purpose of the Report and Policy Context

1.1 To consider a petition to take action to replace the existing Zebra Crossing on Ringwood Road with a new signalised Puffin Crossing.

1.2 The Council’s Transportation Strategy aims to achieve a reduction in injury accidents on our roads and improve provision for safe walking.

2 Recommendation

2.1 It is recommended that the concerns of the petitioners be noted and that they be advised that the request for the Puffin has been fully assessed and is currently on the pedestrian crossing priority ranking list.

3 Background Information 3.1A Petition has been received from the Chairman of the Cynthia Close Resident’s Association, via a ward councillor, from local residents. The petition was signed by a total of 120 residents who were concerned about safety at the crossing. 3.2The petition reads: “Do you use the Pedestrian (Zebra) Crossing at the front of Cynthia House to cross the main road to gain access to either the Albion Hotel or the Bus Stop? Have you had your safety compromised by motorists who do not always stop to allow you to cross? Will you sign below in support of a proposal to request that a Puffin controlled crossing is urgently required, particularly as most of the existing users of the existing crossing are Elderly, Disabled or both? ”. 3.3The Ringwood Road Zebra crossing is located immediately in front of Cynthia House and is some 35 metres northeast of the junction with Cynthia Road and 40 metres southwest of the Albion Hotel. 3.4The Police road traffic collision records for the ten years up to the end of December 2006 indicate that there have been four crashes resulting in personal injuries near the Zebra crossing during this period. Three of these accidents were two-car shunts on the approach to the crossing (two in 1996 and one in 2004) and one was a serious injury to a 75 year-old pedestrian on

1 the crossing itself in 1998. The letter from the Cynthia Close Resident’s association refers to a fatal accident but there is no record of this on the Police system. 3.5The crossing was for a long time at one end of a central kerbed strip running along Ringwood Road which was designed to prevent vehicles turning right in and out of Cynthia Road. The median strip was removed in 1997, leaving two small traffic islands either side of the Zebra crossing point. As the Zebra is split in two by these islands, it effectively acts as two separate crossing points, which means that pedestrians using the facility are not holding up traffic in both directions. 3.6On the basis of the criteria by which Puffins are designed, the road width of around 11 metres is on the outer limit for a single Puffin crossing. Such a facility would cost around £30,000. The single Puffin would have the effect of stopping traffic in both directions and so there would be increased delays to traffic than at present, particularly at peak times. This delay would be amplified by the fact that the Puffin would be extending the ‘green man time’ when more elderly pedestrians were crossing. 3.7In order to reduce this delay to traffic, it would be necessary to introduce a dual Puffin crossing facility with a 3 metre-wide central refuge, so that the crossing could be staggered into two separate crossings. It would be possible to incorporate a dual Puffin within the existing road layout, but the cost of the facility would have to increase to around £50,000. The additional cost of the dual Puffin facility would have to be weighed up against the reduced traffic delays on this busy commuter route. 3.8A pedestrian crossing assessment has just been carried out at this location and the results show that a puffin facility scored minus one (due to the low number of pedestrians crossing) and so comes out 27th on the Pedestrian Facility Priority Ranking List. The priority ranking could be increased if developer contributions could fund part of the cost but the committee would still need to justify any funding for the replacement of an existing facility, when there are other locations in the Borough with no facility at all. 3.9There is no evidence that a Zebra crossing is any less safe than a Puffin. The Zebra crossing point at the Alder Road end of Ashley Road was converted to a Puffin crossing in March 2001. There were 2 injury accidents before the conversion, neither of which involved pedestrians and two afterwards. In fact one of the “after” accidents involved a collision with a pedestrian on the Puffin crossing point.

Julian McLaughlin Head of Transportation Services

Appendix A - General Layout Ringwood Road Zebra Crossing (not available electronically) Appendix B – General Information on Puffin Crossings

Name and Telephone Number of Officer Contact: Martin Baker (01202) 262073 Background Papers - none TAG140607T3K

2 21 May 2007

APPENDIX B Puffin Crossings

Puffin crossings aim to improve safety and reduce delays. They have detectors that can tell when people are waiting to cross. This is why you must stand by the push button box (on the tactile mat if there is one) if the red man signal is showing. The detectors also 'watch' the crossing and control the light signals so that you have enough time to cross in safety. Traffic signals change to green as soon as the crossing is clear, so drivers will no longer be stopped if there are no pedestrians in the road or waiting to cross.

For Pedestrians: When you want to cross the road at a Puffin crossing, look for the boxes on the post on your side of the road. If the green man is showing and all traffic has stopped you can cross.

If the red man is showing, do not cross. This is what to do: Press the button and wait near the push button box, (on the tactile mat if there is one). An indicator light will come on. Watch the red man signal next to you. When it changes to green, and you are sure that the traffic has stopped in both directions, go straight across the road.

The advantage of Puffin's for pedestrians is that the lights will stay red for drivers until they get to the other side of the road.

For Drivers: The Puffin crossing has a standard traffic light sequence. Unlike a Pelican Crossing, it does not have a flashing amber stage. The advantages of Puffins for Drivers are that:

 If pedestrians cross quickly, the lights will change back to green sooner than Pelican crossings.  Traffic won't be stopped if pedestrian press the button but cross before the lights change, or if they change their minds.

3 TOUCAN CROSSINGS

When you want to cross the road at a Toucan Crossing look for a set of lights showing a red man, green man and a cycle on a post at the other side of the road.

When the red man shows, do not cross When the green man and cycle show, and all traffic has stopped, you may cross.

If no signals show, do not start to cross the road. This blackout period between green and red is to allow for those already on the crossing to get clear and is controlled by a detector. The detector can extend the crossing period for people already crossing the road.

If the red man is showing when you arrive at the Toucan crossing look for the box on the post beside you. Press the button and wait.

When the green man and cycle show, pedestrians and cyclists may cross together.

Remember, a Toucan Crossing is a shared crossing - cyclists may ride across the crossing and should take care not to obstruct pedestrians.

For the visually impaired, a tactile rotating knob is mounted on the underside of the box on the right. You may cross when the knob turns.

Drivers: The Toucan Crossing has a standard traffic light sequence with no flashing amber stage. The Toucan's crossing detector eliminates the need for a fixed-time crossing period minimising delay to drivers.

Toucan Crossings aim to provide a safe crossing for both pedestrians and cyclists crossing busy roads, at the same time minimising delays for drivers.

They are shared crossings specifically designed to be used by pedestrians and cyclists together where cycle routes cross main traffic routes.

Cyclists may ride across a Toucan Crossing but should take care not to obstruct pedestrians.

When a number of pedestrians are using the crossing it may be better for cyclists to dismount and walk across.

The crossing period is controlled by a detector which can extend the time available to cross (red light to traffic) depending on the number of people using the crossing.

Towards the end of the crossing period the Green Man and Cycle lights go out and there is a Blackout Period when no lights show. You are safe to complete your crossing during this period but should not start to cross. Press the button and wait for the traffic light sequence to finish.

Do not cross the road until the Green Man and Cycle are showing again and all traffic has stopped.

4 PELICAN CROSSINGS

Pelican crossings are one of the safest pedestrian crossings. Your local council provides them in places where there are a lot of people crossing the road, such as busy high streets.

Each year, many pedestrians are killed or injured within 50 metres of a pedestrian crossing.

Although pedestrians have right of way when the green man shows, do not rely on it - there is always a driver who travels too fast to stop or just ignores the red light.

You must be careful when using a Pelican crossing. Make sure all traffic has stopped before you start crossing. Keep checking for traffic while you cross.

To cross the road at a Pelican crossings press the button on the control box and the "Wait" panel will light up. At the same time the red man signal will show. Do not cross.

You may have to wait a few moments before the signal changes. This is because there is a minimum time phase between each use of the crossing to allow an even flow of traffic.

When the signal changes to a steady green man you may cross with care. At some Pelican crossings there is a bleeping sound to help people who have sight problems to know when to cross.

After a short time, the green man signal will begin to flash. If you have already started to cross, continue - you have enough time to finish crossing safely. If you have not started to cross, press the button and wait, the sequence will begin again.

Drivers: Pelican crossings are there to help pedestrians cross busy roads safely. Please use caution when approaching these crossings.

White zig-zag lines mark the controlled area of a Pelican crossing. It is an offence to overtake or park in this area.

If the traffic light at the Pelican is red you must stop even if there are no pedestrians crossing.

When the amber light is flashing you must give way to pedestrians who are still crossing. Allow plenty of time for the more vulnerable pedestrians to cross.

The green light means you can proceed if the crossing is clear.

In traffic queues, remember to leave all crossings clear.

Don't be tempted to park on the zig-zags, even for a minute, it could cost a life

Pedestrians: Always make full use of pedestrian crossings - they are there to help and protect you.

5 Never assume that cars will stop at Pelican crossings - make sure the way is clear before crossing.

Young children can easily stray onto the road. Always hold their hands and set them a good example.

Drivers: Be patient with elderly or disabled pedestrians - they may be slower crossing than others. Don't harass them by revving your engine.