Robbie1

sorry had to come back on it just breifly... ;) there will always be the divide on the sides of the drivers and the pedestrians but I am a firm believer in the fact that there is goodwill on both sides and a collective desire for everyone to get to their destinations quickly and safely...my feeling is back to the earlier point..that a pelican crossing is a safer form of crossing for that patch of road...the drivers will know where they are and what they need to do and the pedestrians also..happy and safe travelling eveyone ! ;)

Peckhamboy wrote: "How does the puffin crossing change the risks of this? It could happen anywhere along a road, whether there's a crossing or not. You obviously feel very strongly about the crossing but are you not at risk of getting things a little out of proportion? It sounds to me like the accident was a complete one-off, caused by a car stopping on the rcossing in traffic and not realising the lights had changed, whilst a pedestrian stepped out (on the green light?) just as the traffic started moving. I don't think a different type of crossing would have prevented that." The point being, this is a "crossing" ie a place where people think they can cross in safety. As the subsequent posts suggest, there is some confusion and lack of clarity on the merits of the "Puffin" crossing from the pedestrian's angle. As the chap from the borough mentioned this type of crossing is designed to make it "slightly quicker for traffic"! This involves a sensor which registers if there are no people ON the crossing which then allows the lights to change to green quickly to speed up the traffic. This doesn't allow for the pedestrian who steps on just as the lights change. The simple fact is, this accident wasn't a "one off" and has happened before and will happen again if the crossing isn't modified. It is fundementally not designed for pedestrian safety, it is designed to speed up the traffic. The "pelican" crossing would show clearly to pedestrians that "it is now safe to cross" clearly visible on the opposite side of the road. Not down at waist height, understandably obscured by other pedestrians simmply standing at thh crossing beside you. Enough said from me on this subject I think. I wouldn't want to go getting it all out of proportion again ! ;)

Thanks very much for the response Ella, I couldn't agree more to be honest. I am concious that there are very many young families with young children and pushchairs and also many elderly and disabled people using this busy part of Lorship Lane on most days but particularly on Saturday mornings. I think these pedestrians are put at risk by this crossing and I can really see it happening again if changes aren't made. God forbid a young child goes under the wheel of a car if they pull away from their parents grip for a split second. The "common sense" referred to by the last contributor really doesn't come in to play in a moment like this - it just happens. A little compassion and common sense from the authorities needs to be put in place and I hope they make the necessary changes before anything more serious happens. I find also that drivers on Lordship Lane (including bus drivers) are invariably passing through and are wanting to get to Forest Hill and beyond as quickly as possible and in this haste are often frustrated and impatient on this patch of the road.

Thank you very much James....maybe a "Puffican" crossing would be the solution then ! ;) On a serious not though...It was quite an upsetting experience, particularly for the lady in question. (the driver wasn't too happy either). My worry is that older people, disabled people and people carrying young children or with babies in push chairs could be greatly at risk there.

Ohh thanks for that Sue, I do think that those type of Pelican lights work better on very busy large/wide roads. The conventional green/red man indicator on tghe opposite side of the road seems a more user friendly choice for that part of Lordship Lane. Also looking for the red/green light for the cars from the pavement is very difficult as they are shuttered/blinkered and facing directly towards the oncoming traffic. I do worry that there will be more accidents there.

Someone was knocked down at the "Pelican" crossing situated at the Co-op on Lordship Lane on Saturday 29th September. I was stood right next to the lady before she stepped out and into the path of an oncoming car. I think the main problem at this crossing is that there doesn't seem to be the usual green/red man alert light. Pedestrians were waiting for the traffic to stop and then suddenly this lady stepped out with an almighty bang when the car hit her. Fortunately she wasn't too badly injured but the the amount of pushchairs and young children crossing on the road it is only a matter of time before something more serious happens...lets hope the authorities look at the crossing and install clear indicating lights for pedestrians to know for sure when it is safe to cross.