THE PROVISION OF PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS ON FEDERAL HIGHWAYS

On the basis of a census of pedestrian crossings on federal highways (marked with warning signs or flashing yellow beacons and controlled by light signals) in lower Austria the number and distribution of pedestrian crossings was examined in relation to various criteria (density of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and road width). Thus the practical effect of applying the various guidelines for assessing the necessity for the provision of pedestrian crossings could be reviewed. For this purpose the guidelines used in Austria and the various threshold values are compared. It was found, that by using the guidelines produced in the office of the government of lower Austria a marked reduction in the number of newly constructed pedestrian crossings was achieved especially in those areas where due to the low traffic density there is ample opportunity for danger-free crossing of the highway by pedestrians. This is to be welcomed from a traffic technological viewpoint, because the concentration of drivers is doubtless impaired to such an extent by an excessive frequency of pedestrian crossings so as to endanger pedestrian traffic. (TRRL)