UK's First '3D' Zebra Crossing Appears To Float Above The Road
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The UK's first '3D' zebra crossing has been introduced in north-west London in a bid to slow down cars.
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The design of the crossing makes it appear as though the crossing is floating above the road, and it is hoped that the apparent blockage will subsequently slow down cars.
The crossing has been introduced on a year-long trial basis by Westminster City Council in St John's Wood High Street, which just so happens to be situated just around the corner from the UK's most/only famous zebra crossing on Abbey Road... you know, the one that The Beatles and loads of subsequent tourists have walked across.
The crossing is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK and has been inspired by the successful implementation of similar schemes in the likes of Iceland and India.
Indeed, Westminster City Council cited such a crossing in New Delhi when arguing that the '3D' markings had 'been proven' to work, claiming average speeds there had dropped from 31mph (50kph) to 19mph (30kph) since its introduction.
New Delhi Municipal Council along with Delhi Street Art develops another 3D zebra crossing in front of Vigyan Bhavan in January @NBTDilli pic.twitter.com/0cYUEl20xR
- Rahul Manav (@Rahul_Manav11) January 17, 2017
The step has been taken following a number of concerns raised to the council about the road safety of children who attend a nearby school, with many arguing the 20mph limit is too fast.
Local parent group NW8 Mums campaigned for the introduction of new road safety measures in the area, and the group's chair, Karin Thyselius, has backed the jazzy new zebra in town.
Speaking to Wood & Vale, she said: "I've seen a lot of accidents at the crossing, but just countless near-misses, too.
"This will hopefully see people slow down, if they think there's something in the road. As a driver, I drove through on Saturday - it seems to work well."
Who needs speedbumps when you have 3D pedestrian crossings?
That would slow me down for sure! Ísafjörður, Iceland. pic.twitter.com/6MX9rX5Aex
- Fran Friel (@franfriel) October 26, 2017
A spokesman for the AA told the BBC the measure was 'worth a try', but that its 'safety record needed monitoring'... So sounds like nobody's getting too giddy about the magical floating crossing over there.
But it's a fair point, for surely drivers who regularly use the road will soon enough be wise to the illusory nature of the crossing... Guess the council will have to cross that bridge when they come to it.
Featured Image Credit: Westminster Council
Topics: UK News, News, Interesting
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