They are often found at road junctions and so the layout will also be dependent on the movement of turning traffic and pedestrians may need to be directed away from this traffic, which I suspect is the reason that some are reversed.

Z字型行人穿越道經常設置在道路匯合處〈Z字型行人穿越道連結快慢車道〉，因而必須視車流動向與及行人應該被導引的方向調整設計，所以Z字型行人穿越道有時以反Z字型設計。

There are publications that give advice on the design of crossings that can be found at the Stationery Office's web site.

Best wishes

Ken


●Hello,

I am a working professional from Taiwan and have been living in Surrey for the past year and half. Recently I have been exchanging some ideas with friends about ways to help reduce road traffic accidents. The subject of improved pedestrian crossing came up, and I could not help but notice the special pedestrian crossing design in the UK which I have not seen elsewhere.

I came across your website today and was intrigued by some of the projects you have been undertaking. I wanted to obtain your expert opinion in helping to clarify the below questions, as I am not absolutely sure about the logic behind these special pedestrian crossing designs here in the UK:

1. The general observation is that many pedestrian crossings here are shaped like the letter "Z" (instead of a straight walk-through). What is the logic behind this?

2. Originally we had thought that by breaking the crossing into two segments, pedestrians are forced to slow down and to face the direction of on-coming traffic, therefore minimizing the risk of careless accidents. However, I also noticed that some of the crossings are reversed in direction (i.e. pedestrians turn right instead of left when reaching the middle) so that pedestrians may sometimes be facing in the same direction as the traffic. Why are some designed this way?

Many thanks in advance for your help in clarifying these questions. After further examination of best practices across different countries, we hope to be able to recommend some specific measures to our own government in improving road safety.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Kathy Yao

yaokathy@sloan.mit.edu



Ken Lupton
Transport Research Manager
Middlesex University
Queensway
Enfield
Middlesex EN3 4SF
Tel: 44 (0)20 8411 6817
Fax: 44 (0)20 8411 6390


●Dear Juliana,

Here is the first response from the expert! The explanation for the "reverse" Z is a bit vague though. Let me also research further on the website for the mentioned publication to see if I can find more specific explanations.

Hope you had a great start with 2002.

Kathy