Accident at Sainsbury's Roundabout, ...waiting to happen? Options

[wabbit]

I was saddened to learn that the huge disruption to traffic this morning was due to an accident involving an elderly pedestrian on the Sainsbury's roundabout. It goes without saying that this is a tragedy for this gentleman's family and hopefully, forum members will refrain from 'smart alec' comments such as those which accompanied the posts on the Headley ford drowning.

But, I really wanted to question the safety of all the crossings around this roundabout. I have only recently (in an effort to save parking charges) taken advantage of Sainsbury's two hour free parking for customers and used these crossing points to go into the town centre. I was frankly, terrified - although there is a 40mph speed limit on this stretch of road and there are 'green man' signals for each of the separate crossing points, it feels quite unsafe as a pedestrian as traffic seems to be flying past and some drivers seem to accelerate wildly away from the lights. I am not elderly and my eyesight, hearing and faculties are fine but I have always been fearful, as a driver, that someone will step out in front of a car - and today, it would seem they did.

Of course I realise one could use the underpass, but, as a female, 'underpasses' are something I have always tried to avoid where there is an 'above ground' option. Maybe though, this might be a time to look at the safety of all these crossing points and consider whether to extend the railings and not allow pedestrians to cross above ground - maybe making the underpasses the only option?

[wabbit]

A shame. Although, I walk across here daily, normally I walk to Sainsburys from town. I also make the return journey at approximately the same time. Never have a problem, myself. I do however have a tendency to walk into lamp posts.
I see some people who will still go to cross the road, just as the red illuminated man begins to show.. late for a business meeting, I assume. Why take the risk.

As this is the Newbury Weekly News forum, I'm always surprised when people post on the 'Newbury News' section of the forum without reading the news first! Isn't that how the furore over Xjay (or whatever incarnation he was at that time) occured when he didn't bother to even read a story first.

Maybe a little hasty and judgemental Roger T to assume this chap was 'late for a business meeting' - he is described as an 'elderly man' - which, let's be honest, could describe most of the members of this forum!!

As there is such an emphasis these days on health & safety (and even the proximity of our local police station!), I would have hoped there would have been regular risk assessments carried out on these crossings?

[Timbo]

As there is such an emphasis these days on health & safety (and even the proximity of our local police station!), I would have hoped there would have been regular risk assessments carried out on these crossings?

You are joking right?

The health and safety culture is what I think is causing great damage to the UK economy... of course I am the most qualified person for the job (I taught lower level English and IT so well qualified for the financial side of things... (sarcasm))

What would you like, perhaps Hi-visibility jackets, method statements and a risk assesment form all filled out before you can use a crossing?
Crossings are clear to me and have been since childhood... light is red, you wait, light is green, you go. Of course we may bend these rules traffic flow depending but ultimately if I walk out and get hit, and the pedestrian light is red, it's only myself to blame..

[blackdog]

You are joking right?

The health and safety culture is what I think is causing great damage to the UK economy... of course I am the most qualified person for the job (I taught lower level English and IT so well qualified for the financial side of things... (sarcasm))

What would you like, perhaps Hi-visibility jackets, method statements and a risk assesment form all filled out before you can use a crossing?
Crossings are clear to me and have been since childhood... light is red, you wait, light is green, you go. Of course we may bend these rules traffic flow depending but ultimately if I walk out and get hit, and the pedestrian light is red, it's only myself to blame..

Surely this is a golden opportunity to install some nice rising bollards to protect the pedestrians.