Any one heard of any accidents at the zebra crossing outside the KFC in Chapeltown?

I've seen several near misses and wondered if any one had actually been knocked down yet. The council have been out to look at it, after many complaints, and said that it was perfectly alright!

I suppose they couldn't be bothered to incur the cost of moving it and admitting to their stupidity in putting it there in the first place :loopy:

I haven't heard of any accidents, but I won't use it because I've seen too many near misses.

i couldn't beleive it when the crossing was put there - i know someone was knocked down on the one near the baths but the one ar the roundabout is ridiculous - i dont dare cross there, the pelican crossing is scary enough - what braindead person would agree to put a crossing almost on a roundabout? the problem is - the planning people obviously dont use the area in which they put crossings - look at the zebra crossings on the leppings lane roundabout - i've seen loads of near misses there especially on match days.

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=221595&highlight=black+clio


Previous thread about the same crossing!

Jim:thumbsup:

i couldn't beleive it when the crossing was put there - i know someone was knocked down on the one near the baths but the one ar the roundabout is ridiculous - i dont dare cross there, the pelican crossing is scary enough - what braindead person would agree to put a crossing almost on a roundabout? the problem is - the planning people obviously dont use the area in which they put crossings - look at the zebra crossings on the leppings lane roundabout - i've seen loads of near misses there especially on match days.

Actually, you're wrong about the people who plan the schemes not using the area. The guy who planned the Chapeltown road safety scheme lived in the area at that time. I also have lived in Chapeltown and still regularly use the area.

In any case, you don't need to live in an area to have a very good idea of how facilities will be used.

Pedestrian crossings have to be placed on the pedestrian desire line, if they are put a few yards away they won't be used.

There was considerable debate within the Council about what kind of crossing should be used on the Chapeltown scheme. I was in favour of signalised crossings and argued against the zebras. However, the road safety people argued their case and a decision was taken to go with zebras. Signalised crossings cost a lot more than zebras and unfortunately, funding is limited so cost does come into the equation.

There are regular "near misses" at most junctions / crossings / signals these days. My view has always been that in situations where road users (drivers or pedestrians) percieve danger, they tend to take more care. This could be why people think it's dangerous, but there haven't actually been many accidents

The zebras are better than nothing and the only way they would be upgraded to signalled crossings would be if there was a significant injury accident problem that it was thought could be addressed by the change, or if money became available, perhaps via planning gain from a development.

I agree there are regular near misses on most crossings etc, but this one seems to have more than it's fair share. The problem is it is far too close to the roundabout and the exit to Tesco/petrol station (where people who can't be bothered to wait just fly out whether any traffic (or people) are coming or not). Another problem is that some people just walk straight across it without paying much attention, yes, cars should stop to let people across, but unfortunately some people just don't have the courtesy to do this. It would have been far better if it had been situated a few yards up the road, even better, put it near the shops at the bottom of Lound Side, that road's a nightmare to cross sometimes!

Yeah, I don't think it is the safest place for a crossing, but at the end of the day if you come out of the post office and need to go to Tesco 99% of people will cross there. They aren't going to walk the extra 30 yards up the hill to cross the road. People want the quickest route possible. How many people do you see everyday cross the road where there is a crossing about 20 metres away? I bet the answer is quite high. At least the council have acknowledged this and have tried to do something about it.

Pedestrian crossings have to be placed on the pedestrian desire line, if they are put a few yards away they won't be used.
If the zebra had been placed further up Burncross Road then people would still cross outside KFC rather than walk up the road a few yards. I lived in Chap for 10 years from 1992 and saw numerous near misses at that particular roundabout without the zebra crossing.

Lets stop blaming the Council for the near misses and blame the people causing them........drivers with no road sense and those driving too fast.

a zebra crossing is supposed to be used when both sides of traffic stop!! so why on earth are people still crossing whilst the traffic is still moving!! this isn't a council problem this is people who don't know how to use a Zebra Crossing

I have crossed this MANY MANY Times whilst drunk and i've NEVER had a problem this it

a zebra crossing is supposed to be used when both sides of traffic stop!! so why on earth are people still crossing whilst the traffic is still moving!! this isn't a council problem this is people who don't know how to use a Zebra Crossing


I think you are missing the point slightly. The concern is cars coming off the roundabout directly onto the Zebra crossing. There are quite a few distractions already, and the crossing isn't the easiest to see.

I can understand the reason it's there, given that people will cross here anyway as it's the direct path to Tesco. A pelican would have made more sense as the red rlights are easier to see.

I think you are missing the point slightly. The concern is cars coming off the roundabout directly onto the Zebra crossing. There are quite a few distractions already, and the crossing isn't the easiest to see.

I can understand the reason it's there, given that people will cross here anyway as it's the direct path to Tesco. A pelican would have made more sense as the red rlights are easier to see.

the idea is to wait until both lanes of traffic have stopped before crossing a zebra crossing. if you know your green cross code you'd know this!!

Unfortunately many drivers approaching from Market Place and travelling up Burncross Rd seem to ignore the roadabouts existence completely and pile on through regardless.

It's definately in a stupid place. As is the one further up Burncross Road, when turning left out of Greenhead Lane - many time kids run across thinking it's safe to cross and drivers hardly have chance to react.

the idea is to wait until both lanes of traffic have stopped before crossing a zebra crossing. if you know your green cross code you'd know this!!

You've missed it again. What if there is no traffic coming in one or both directions? Do you wait until a car turns up and stops, before starting to cross?

only if you're really weird lol :)

many time kids run across thinking it's safe to cross and drivers hardly have chance to react.

To be honest though if a kid is stupid and runs across without looking the presence or otherwise of a zebra crossing is hardly going to make much difference. In fact, it would only likely increase said kid's chances of survival.

But the zebra crossing is the reason they dart straight across where they do (without looking) - because they think its safe even when it's not. If they were to run straight across without looking elsewhere along the road (away from a junction or a roundabout) both they and drivers have a clear view and time to react.
Both crossings are in the wrong place iv lost count of the number of people who have said the same to me here in Chap, we are not all wrong.

But the zebra crossing is the reason they dart straight across where they do (without looking) - because they think its safe even when it's not.

I don't agree with that at all. I think the sort of kid who would run striaght across a zebra crossing is the sort of kid who would run straight across the road anyway.

If there has been an unusually large number of near misses there, then it's not the fault of the crossing, it's the fault of the drivers who don't treat that section with enough care, and the people who run across without looking. Drivers shouldn't be rushing through there anyway, even without the crossing it's a roundabout entry/exit point and a petrol station exit not a metre further along, with a car park opposite. Not that that bothers a number of today's drivers I suppose, who exercise the same lack of caution regardless.

You may not agree but it's true, wherever a zebra crossing is on the road, most people are going to assume that is the safest place to cross and so off they go regardless thinking the whole world will stop for them even though they're the one who'll end up hurt. Yes, many drivers don't take enough care but the reasons you state only add to the fact that the crossing shouldnt be there, it's too much going on in a short stretch of road.
Many people run across the road coming from infront of KFC without looking, as a driver coming down Burncross Road even if you drive really slowly and carefully you don't get much time to stop for them and so the pedestrian considers it dangerous driving because they've had a fright due to their stupidity. The crossing is quite simply in a dangerous place.

I find it worse coming up Burncross Road from Market place, you stop at the roundabout looking for traffic coming from the right, as you do, if there is or if there is a car in front of you non the nroundabout ypou have to watch to see if it's going straight forward or going into Tesco, no one seems to indicate these days, by the time you get past the roundabout you are looking for cars coming out of Tesco's as most seem it's their god given right to come straight out without waiting to drive down towards Market Place, you can quite easily see anyone waiting to cross from Tesco to KFC, but it's not so easy seeing from KFC to Tesco. Yes they say studies have been taken as to the safety of the crossing, and it's okay! but I've seen on more than one occasion people still using the bollard in the centre of the road, just below the crossing, going down, even more to keep an eye on.

Your totally right Hazel, I agree with you 100%

I can't understand why there are two crossings within ahundred yards or so of each other. I remember Chapeltown being lit with gas lamps - not a crossing, or hardly a motor vehicle in sight.