Shared crossings the right choice

Speaking as someone with plenty of experience in safety in industrial work places, I can say people are best able to assess risks when they are alert to their surroundings. This is as true when considering road crossings as anywhere else.

‘Shared spaces’ where there is no clear priority given to either road users or pedestrians encourage people to engage their brains and research has shown there is no lowering in safety levels. They have been used successfully all over the UK (with the full consultation of the RNIB) and perhaps the problem with this example is a lack of public information about what may be an alien concept.

Can I suggest either putting signs on the perimeter of the area to explain how it works (‘You are now entering a shared space’ etc) or plonking down a few well understood belisha beacons.

Many people complain about the ‘nanny state’, ‘health and safety gone mad’, the ‘loss of community’ and so on. How about commending a council who are trying to empower people to make decision for themselves? How about offering to help a blind person across the road? How about being able to have shared spaces where you cross the road where you want to? Not where someone in an office decided you should?

Guy Hodgson, Via email