Zebra Pedestrian Crossings: Lighting (Hansard, 29 February 1988)

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, yes. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport is satisfied that the provisions of the Zebra Pedestrian Crossings Regulations, supported by advice on the design of pedestrian crossings published by the department, are adequate for safety during the hours of darkness.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that Answer, but there is a respectably held opinion that pedestrians are difficult to see in bad weather, even where there are spotlights. Is it intended gradually to install at the busiest of these crossings the push-button traffic lights which give much more certain protection?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, we believe that there is a role for both the pelican-type crossings and the zebra crossings. In the department's advice notes which are sent out to local highway authorities we 8 give guidance as to when one sort or the other should be used.
As regards supplementary lighting in the form of white lights above pedestrian crossings, that is a very good idea and should improve visibility for drivers.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, would it be of interest to the Minister to learn that, since the noble Lord tabled his Question, in travelling home from this House every night I have been checking the number of pedestrian crossings where one or both orange globes have been destroyed? I am shocked by the number that are in that state. Can the Minister say whether or not police motor patrols are informed that they should notify the local authority when such breakages occur? Should there not be emergency teams, doing other work, who can speedily replace the lights?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, the noble Lord makes an interesting suggestion. I am not at present aware of who is responsible for reporting such breakages to the local highway authority responsible for replacing them. Indeed, I hope that the police who are on patrol do report such breakages. However, I will draw the noble Lord's remarks to the attention of my right honourable friend.

§ Lord John-Mackie
My Lords, does not the noble Lord agree that it would be much better if pedestrians wore light clothing or a light arm band? I have had several nasty experiences involving dark-clothed people on well-lit pedestrian crossings. On a bad night one cannot see them.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, the noble Lord makes an interesting suggestion, but it is a matter for people to decide for themselves. Nevertheless, I should say that the incidence of accidents on pedestrian crossings, both during the day and at night, is not that high though I do not wish to be complacent. However, it would indeed be useful if people wore more visible clothing.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, in addition to the point made by my noble friend Lord Underhill concerning beacons being destroyed, may I point out that there is also the growing habit of motorists parking on the zig-zag lines? As a result, the official safe crossing becomes a greater hazard than any other part of the road which has no zebra crossing.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I have always understood that parking on the zig-zag lines next to a pedestrian crossing is practically a capital offence. I hope that other road users also take that into account.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, does not my noble friend agree that push-button operated lights have another advantage in that they assist traffic flows and the flow of vehicles round squares, so returning to the points raised during the second Question?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, my noble friend is right. That is one of the aspects included in our guidance notes for highway authorities when they decide between pelican or zebra crossings. Pelican crossings are, of course, more expensive to install, and are not necessary everywhere, but they do have an important role to play.

§ Lord Airedale
My Lords, frequently street lights of all kinds burn brightly in the midday sun and not in the midnight darkness. Does the Minister not consider that it would be a contribution to road safety if local authorities were liable to be prosecuted in the same way as motorists for not having their lights on after dark?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am sure that all local authorities try to keep their street lights operating at the correct times. Many are now automatically controlled, and however much we advance in technology we cannot avoid the occasional breakdown.

Lord Wallace of Coslany
My Lords, on safety for pedestrians, may I draw the attention of the noble Lord—

Noble Lords
Question!

Lord Wallace of Coslany
Perhaps I may ask the noble Lord whether he is aware of the disastrous and chaotic conditions which apply due to building work in Villiers Street, between the Embankment and the Strand. The pedestrian not only needs light clothing but he needs to carry hazard lights because of the terrible conditions, particularly in wet weather.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am afraid that am not aware of the instance to which the noble Lord draws my attention. What I can be fairly sure of is that it is not a matter for the Government; it is a matter for the local highway authority.