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?

[spartacus]

I have previously thought whether the crossing should be moved a little towards the rail station to take it a bit away from the junction.

They put crossings in places where there is an obvious 'desire line' to account for the fact that humans are bone idle and can be very dimwitted. If the crossing had been built 20m away from the junction (and even if there had been railings in place which guided people to the crossing and prevented you from just stepping into the road) you would STILL get far too many who couldn't be bothered with the extra 20m walk and would just climb over the railing so they could go in a straight line to their destination.

On the A4 in Thatcham you have a pedestrian crossing at the junction with Stoney Lane, which leads to Kennet School. At the other end and within 200m (approx?) you have another pedestrian crossing at the Floral Way roundabout which also helps you to get to Francis Baily school... But EVERY school day you get parents parking in the Texaco garage and pulling their kids across the road into the path of moving traffic (and hoping someone will stop) because they can't be bothered with the fag of walking up to the crossing then walking back....

"It's an accident waiting to happen I tell you!"

What this heavily-used roundabout actually needs - money allowing - is a North-South single lane in each direction bridge for light vehicles. (a bit like the Chiswick flyover).

Why not have a tunnel instead? They could use the pedestrian subways that pedestrians are too scared to use....

[dannyboy]

They put crossings in places where there is an obvious 'desire line' to account for the fact that humans are bone idle and can be very dimwitted. If the crossing had been built 20m away from the junction (and even if there had been railings in place which guided people to the crossing and prevented you from just stepping into the road) you would STILL get far too many who couldn't be bothered with the extra 20m walk and would just climb over the railing so they could go in a straight line to their destination.

On the A4 in Thatcham you have a pedestrian crossing at the junction with Stoney Lane, which leads to Kennet School. At the other end and within 200m (approx?) you have another pedestrian crossing at the Floral Way roundabout which also helps you to get to Francis Baily school... But EVERY school day you get parents parking in the Texaco garage and pulling their kids across the road into the path of moving traffic (and hoping someone will stop) because they can't be bothered with the fag of walking up to the crossing then walking back....

"It's an accident waiting to happen I tell you!"




Why not have a tunnel instead? They could use the pedestrian subways that pedestrians are too scared to use....

You can see this in action with the Ped Crossings next to the cinema. People just jaywalk on the apex of the corrner instead.