‘Death trap’ pedestrian schemes slammed by Guide Dogs

‘Death trap’ pedestrian schemes slammed by Guide Dogs

The shocking findings of a report commissioned by Guide Dogs was published on Friday 15 September and is available to download at guidedogs.org.uk/sharedsurfaces.

The charity’s report criticises the design of many shared surfaces, where road and pavement exist at the same level and are jointly used by motorised vehicles and pedestrians.

Acknowledging that such schemes are of benefit to wheelchair users; Guide Dogs’ concern is that blind and partially sighted people are put in peril as they cannot see moving traffic.

Guide Dogs’ director of policy and development Tom Pey warns:  “Unless the needs of visually impaired people are incorporated into such schemes, we’ll soon be reading about fatalities.   Some of the designs are death traps.  One guide dog owner has already suffered a potentially life-threatening incident in a town centre, and there have been several other near misses in shared surface zones.”

Guide Dogs’ report is based on the findings of 10 focus groups, representing people with a visual impairment or other disabilities, who live in towns where there are shared surfaces. 

The overwhelming majority are opposed to the implementation of shared surface areas, reporting concerns about the increased risks to their safety, reduced confidence and independence, and their lack of involvement in the consultation process.

Focus groups reported a series of instances where they had been in danger or felt unsafe using shared surface areas, including:

• nearly stepping out in front of a bus;
• getting knocked over by cyclists;  
• being intimidated by traffic passing close by; and
• finding it impossible to cross roads safely.

These experiences were primarily a result of:

• the lack of demarcation between ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ areas, with the removal of the distinction between ‘pavement’ and ‘road’;
• difficulty in locating and using crossing points, due to the removal of traffic-light controlled crossings; and
• street design or the use of materials that make it difficult for visually-impaired people to orientate themselves.

The kerb edge, or other tactile demarcation between pavement and carriageway, is a fundamental ‘clue’ for the orientation of blind and partially sighted people – including guide dogs. Without a kerb, this becomes very difficult.

In addition, the shared surface approach proposes that users of the streets negotiate priority and movement through ‘eye contact’ – which puts visually impaired people at an immediate disadvantage.

Guide Dogs’ report makes a number of recommendations to improve the safety and accessibility of shared surface areas for vulnerable groups, including:

• the creation (or reinstatement) of a pavement with a kerb, regular dropped kerbs for wheelchair users, and properly-laid tactile paving;
• or, at least, a clear delineation between the road/vehicle area and the pavement/pedestrian-only area, through tactile and colour or tone contrast;
• tactile information to indicate when pedestrians are entering and leaving a shared surface area;
• separate pedestrian areas and cycle lanes;
• controlled crossings with audible and tactile signals; and
• the installation of railings at potential danger points.

Guide Dogs is commencing a programme that will develop and test designs for shared surfaces, which meet the requirements of people with visual impairments and other disabilities.

At the same time, the charity will undertake a programme of consultation and awareness-raising with local authorities, urban design architects and town planners.