Diagonal pedestrian crossing. Crossroads with a pedestrian crossing diagonally

Ensuring road safety is an important task for the competent authorities. Considering how many people lose their health and even their lives due to non-observance of the relevant rules, officials decided to make certain changes to the legislation. Moreover, they have already implemented them in practice. It is a question of diagonal pedestrian crossings. So, what are they? What are their characteristics?

New Markup Type

The last calendar year was remembered for drivers and pedestrians, among other things, by introducing certain changes in the legislation. In particular, now let's talk about one of them - the introduction of a new type of markup (namely, a diagonal pedestrian crossing was introduced). What does this mean for pedestrians? Now they can cross the roadway only on the perimeter of the intersection, but also through its center. Do new pedestrian crossings mean new rules for drivers as well? About this further.

What is a diagonal transition

An adjustable pedestrian crossing assumes that people will cross the road at the same time as the traffic moving along the carriageway. In practice, this means that when cars turn, they create a conditional danger for those that cross the road. In other words, there is a risk of a traffic accident, and a person at a pedestrian crossing is not insured against an accident.

After investigating the causes of such tragic situations, experts came to the conclusion that the introduction of a completely separate pedestrian phase many times could reduce the number of such risks. In addition, the diagonal transition assumes that people will cross the roadway obliquely. The distance of their movement increases and, consequently, the time of the transition. What do these innovations mean for pedestrians? Safety and incredible convenience when crossing the roadway.

Studies of specialists who have been conducted for a long time show that the diagonal pedestrian crossing of the road is the most safe alternative for improving traffic in those areas where traffic and pedestrian flows are particularly intense.

Experiment?

The introduction of this kind of transitions was not a spontaneous decision. It was carefully designed. Before entering them officially, the diagonal pedestrian crossing was introduced on ten crossroads of the city of Moscow in the experimental order. So, on the selected sites, the corresponding diagonal marking was applied. Intersections were chosen various. Nevertheless, they all were united by some common requirements. For example, the following:

• Sufficient visibility;
• At least four lanes in both directions of traffic;
• Presence of artificial lighting;
• The presence of specialized pedestrian sections at traffic lights;
• Location in the sleeping area (transport should be less than pedestrians).

Before the experiment was implemented, people, as a rule, violated the rules of the road in the chosen places, crossing the road. The best outcome in this case could be just a fine of 500 rubles, the worst - loss of health or life.

After this experiment was recognized successfully implemented, it was decided to apply diagonal marking in various parts of the city. A total of about three hundred transitions of this kind were planned on the territory of the capital. What will this innovation bring to drivers and passengers? How has the action of the pedestrian crossing changed? What do experts think about this? Details are further in the article.

Reflection in legislation

What exactly is said about the considered innovations in the current legislation? First, the crossing of the carriageway by a pedestrian is possible only through specialized transitions (it also refers to above-ground ones, and underground crossings). If there are none, the only possibility is to move through the intersection only along the roadside or sidewalk.

In some cases, legislation allows the intersection of the road between two opposite corners of the intersection (diagonally, diagonally). However, only in the case of the presence of markings, denoting a diagonal pedestrian crossing.

A new paragraph was added to the corresponding paragraph of the legislation, which indicates the conditions under which a diagonal pedestrian crossing becomes possible. These are the following points:

• Is allowed only at regulated intersections ;
• It is allowed only if there is an appropriate markup.

Attention! Not all pedestrians can cross the road diagonally. This applies to places where there is a traffic sign "Pedestrian crossing", and to adjustable intersections. The exception is made only for those sites where the corresponding marking was made. Crossing the carriageway diagonally at intersections without marking can lead to an emergency situation. There are also certain rules for its application. For example, it is important to consider the size of the pedestrian zebra. When all (and drivers, and pedestrians, and communal services) fulfill their duties, traffic on the roads becomes safe.

Security

The diagonal pedestrian crossings considered in this article can effectively increase the level of traffic safety on the road in those cases when the carriageway crosses both the pedestrian and the turning car simultaneously.

It is important to understand that with the application of innovations, the rules for the passage of a pedestrian crossing also change. In addition, the level of servicing of the intersection of this section is significantly reduced for pedestrians as well as for drivers. Its high level is typical only for an ordinary system using a standard two-phase traffic light. The only exception is the areas with incredibly high pedestrian flows. For such intersections, diagonal transitions are the best solution for optimizing vehicle traffic.

Opinion of pedestrians

How did the people who first of all use new pedestrian crossings react directly? In the main majority, people did not express either admiration or indignation about this. For many, this new type of markup seems convenient. After all, now there is no need to go to the right side of the road around the perimeter. This saves time to a certain extent. Others believe that this novelty will not fundamentally change anything. In general pedestrians reacted passively enough to the opportunity to cross the roadway diagonally at certain intersections. Perhaps, with time, testing the innovation in practice, they can make their own reasoned opinion.

Opinion of drivers

Car enthusiasts were not happy with the innovation. A separate pedestrian phase, in their opinion, can significantly disrupt the maintenance of the flow of vehicles. After all, now within a certain time cars in all directions will stand. In the opinion of motorists, this will once again provoke the formation of traffic jams, which in Moscow is already enough. Drivers, for the most part, do not understand what kind of problems officials are trying to solve through the introduction of such changes, and they are not particularly happy about this.

Expert opinion

Many specialists were apprehensive about these innovations and even encouraged officials to take practical measures to abolish the described solution. What, in the opinion of experts, is the problem?

Experts believe that, in this case, it would be unreasonable to copy foreign experience in the Russian Federation, since the culture of movement along the roads is radically different. If the West has an executable limit of 50 kilometers per hour, then in Russia, cities travel at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. On pedestrian crossings, today, forty out of a hundred people crossing the road are being shot down, so they must be considered areas of increased danger.

Among other things, special markup, as a rule, is erased in three months. Rarely it is updated with the same regularity. The driver may simply not notice the special markings and, without waiting for the pedestrian, do not lose speed while driving.

Moreover, if the pedestrian does not have time to cross the roadway, he, according to the law, will have to stop in the center of the intersection. As soon as traffic begins, it becomes vulnerable to turning cars, will be forced to shift and fall into an area in which it can be brought down by any moving machine.

In general, experts identified up to a dozen problems that make diagonal pedestrian crossings impossible at Russian crossings.

Islet of safety

In addition to the described, the habitual life of drivers and pedestrians will change a few more innovations. Among them, including the island of security. What it is? And why did they create it?

If a pedestrian enters the road, he has no right to stop at it or overstay it unnecessarily, unless it is necessary to ensure safety on the roadway. Persons who did not have time to cross the pedestrian crossing (the zebra did not end, but the traffic light signal changed) must remain on the safety island or directly on the line that divides traffic flows in opposite directions. Continue to move only when it is absolutely safe.

Bicycle lane

Now there is a special lane on the roadway. It is designed exclusively for those who ride a bicycle or a moped. This strip is separated in a special way from the rest of the road (usually with a special horizontal marking, and a special sign, which is hung directly above the strip). Sometimes they use the new "Bike lane" sign. It no longer hangs over the roadway, but is installed from the side, like the road sign "Pedestrian crossing."

Rationality of innovation?

How correctly did the competent authorities act upon this decision? To date, it is difficult to say. And although the relevant studies and experiments were carried out before the introduction of the changes, it is only time that can help to accurately understand how effective this decision was. The practice, the behavior of pedestrians and drivers, the statistics of violations and traffic accidents on the observed sites - all this will become an obvious answer to the question asked at the beginning of the paragraph.

How to react

The only thing it would be wise to do now is to follow the current rules. Sense to criticize innovation and prove their fallibility or inefficiency a bit. It would be more reasonable to understand them carefully and do everything that would contribute to safety on the carriageway: to observe the rules for the passage of a pedestrian crossing of this type. It is important to remember that safety is paramount. No time saved is worth the lost human life.

Conclusion

So, a diagonal pedestrian crossing is a transition that allows pedestrians to cross the roadway not only along the perimeter of the intersection, but also diagonally (from one corner to the opposite). This can be done only if there is appropriate marking, as well as only at adjustable intersections . To date, there are more than three hundred such transitions.

The public reacted to the innovation in different ways. So, pedestrians did not express anything concrete, noticing only that it, probably, will increase convenience of crossing of the carriageway for them. Drivers and experts were seriously worried. Car enthusiasts worry that due to this innovation, the number of traffic jams will increase significantly. But experts argue that diagonal pedestrian crossings will not only not provide greater security when crossing the roadway, but at all significantly reduce its level.

Who is right, time will tell. In the meantime, we all should correctly adhere to the norms and requirements of the current legislation, worrying about our own safety and the safety of others.