After many, many years pedestrian crossings have been installed at the Hangingwater/ Nether Green junction. This has always been a particularly busy and dangerous junction for pedestrians especially with the vicinity of a shool, old people's home and local shops.

The council warned that there would be delays to traffic at the re-designed junction especially in rush hour but that is the price you pay for increased safety.

However, after what I have witnessed today I think pedestrians are possibly in more danger now than previously.

The forecast delays to traffic are apparent which appears to have made quite a few drivers frustrated to the point that they are prepared to jump red lights.

I saw a blue Transit van blatantly go through a red light that must of being showing for at least 2-3 seconds. He seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he had just gone straight over a predestrian crossing which was showing green.

I presumed he was just a one off nutter until of course I tried to cross the road. I was halfway across when I noticed that two cars had accelerated instead of braking when the lights changed to red. I just stopped and shook my head in disbelief as they thundered past inches from my toes.

I am car driver myself so am fairly wary of these situations and I dread to think what would have happened if there had been children or older people using the crossing at the time.

Has anybody else got any examples of well intentioned safety improvements that are possibly having the opposite effect?

V

i know exactly what you mean, couple o times i had to jump outa the way on crossings and then had the cheek to be told i was the one in the wrong!


Also the Mcdonalds on farm road (the one i work in) ppl use it as a speedway and are doing 30mph plus around the outdside. One of my friends who works there was on the crossing and a guy decided that it was perfectly alright to do 60mph down the side.
he had to screech to a halt and then started shouting at her and saying that she thinks because she has a mcd's uniform on and a badge she has the right of way!?!? maybe it was because she was already half way across and a pedestrain on a pedestrain crosssin that she had the right of way.


this place is meant to be a 10mph maximum zone and he was told this but he thought that he was in his rights to go as fast as he wanted etc. basically whats gonna happen sooner or later is a kid will wander out be on the crossing and whack one dead child, and what will they say to the parents?? ur kid thought he had the right to cross on there or i was in a hurry or they'll probabilly blame the parents!