§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the criteria his Department uses when deciding where pedestrian crossings should be located;
587W(2) what consideration his Department gives when deciding where pedestrian crossings should be located to (a) the proximity of children's playgrounds or schools, and (b) the proximity of sheltered accommodation for elderly or handicapped people; and what consideration his Department gives when deciding how much time is made available for pedestrians to cross the road at light-controlled pedestrian crossings to the numbers of elderly or handicapped people likely to use a crossing.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Department's advice to highway authorities on the siting of pedestrian crossings is contained in Departmental Advice Note TA10/80 "Design Considerations for Pelican and Zebra Crossings", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The advice is that justification for providing a crossing should normally be based on the number of pedestrians and vehicles at the site; where these numerical criteria are not met pedestrian crossings may still be provided where there is a special need, for example, near schools and homes for elderly people.
Current guidance on the time to be provided for pedestrians at "Pelican" light-controlled pedestrian crossings is given in Departmental Standard TD4/79 "Pelican Crossings: Pelican Crossing Operation", a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House. The recommended timings are related to road width and do not include specific reference to elderly or people with disabilities. Revised advice is now in preparation and it is intended that this will recommend provision of additional time in special circumstances, such as those the hon. Member has in mind.
Local highway authorities have discretion to vary this advice to suit local circumstances.