TRL reveals success of Pedestrian Countdown technology

Date: 1/6/2011

Pedestrian Countdown technology trialled in the UK capital has helped people to feel safer and less hurried, a study by TRL (the Transport Research Laboratory) has discovered.

According to Transport for London (TfL), eight sites in the city were fitted with the digital displays - which show a numerical countdown between the green man going off and the red figure appearing - and testing began in June last year.

This allows walkers to see exactly how many seconds they have left in which to get across safely before road traffic starts to move.

A survey carried out by TRL revealed that 83 per cent of respondents liked the technology, rising to 94 per cent among pedestrians with mobility impairments.

In addition, the trial had no negative impact on safety and also reduced feelings of uncertainty among users.

TfL is now working with the Department for Transport, the Highways Agency and London boroughs to discuss a possible larger rollout of the programme across specific road junctions in the capital by next year.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson says: "The certainty of having a timer also means we should see less of the lethal last-minute dashes across the road that, as well as being highly dangerous, can disrupt the journeys of other road users waiting at the lights."

Last year, the number of road-related fatalities in the city fell below 150 to 126 - 32 per cent lower than in 2009.

Posted by Sarah Bailey