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21/06/2010
A trial of 'pedestrian countdown' traffic signals has begun today in London, in a bid to improve both pedestrian safety and traffic flow in the capital.
Set to be installed in eight locations for the 18-month trial, the digital displays will show pedestrians exactly how long they have to cross the road before the 'red man' appears. While the signals are a common sight in cities around the world, it is the first time they have been seen on UK streets.
The first such UK crossing has been unveiled opposite Southwark tube station on Blackfriars Road in the south of the city, the BBC reports.
The move follows research published in October last year which suggested that many pedestrians are unclear about the precise meaning of the signals they encounter at crossings.
According to the Transport Research Laboratory report, 60% of pedestrians are unaware that the so-called 'blackout phase' - when neither green nor red man is displayed - is intended to allow people to complete their crossing. In addition, it found that around half of those using crossings did so during a red man warning.
While Transport for London (TfL) - which is running the trial - notes that it is not illegal for pedestrians to cross while the red man is displayed, it has highlighted the fact that 21% of London's 1,055 fatal and serious pedestrian injuries in 2009 took place at pedestrian crossings.
David Brown, TfL surface transport managing director, said: "Our research has shown that many people in London are not sure about the amount of time they have to safely cross the road.
"Pedestrian countdown will remove that concern and give them a clear indication of how long they have to cross before the red man phase begins.
"This will hopefully lead to [fewer] pedestrian injuries."
The trial was welcomed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who said he hoped that the technology would "make London safer for all concerned and smooth the flow of traffic to help keep London, and its inhabitants, moving".
However, pedestrian charity Living Streets called for the trials to be axed, stating that pedestrian safety claims are a "red herring", and that the trial could cause those on foot to feel rushed while crossing roads.
The charity added that "the measure is clearly aimed at getting motor traffic moving quickly rather than improving the walkability of London's streets".
It has called for people to sign a petition against the crossings.
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