The Welsh Government has approved the drafting of legislation to allow highway authorities to use side road zebra crossings on 20mph roads.
These crossings are designed to support the 2022 amendments to the Highway Code requiring drivers to give way to pedestrians who are crossing or waiting to cross a road into which they are turning.
They support the Welsh Government’s wider vision of creating accessible and inclusive travel for all, where everyone can move safely and feel safe in their communities.
A side road zebra crossing uses black and white zebra markings and give way lines but does not have the other features of the crossings people are more used to such as Belisha beacons or zig zag markings.
Side road zebra crossings can therefore be installed on the pedestrian’s desired walking line, directly across the mouth of the junction and are significantly cheaper and quicker to install and maintain.
The side road zebras were trialled in three locations in Cardiff in 2022 to support the introduction of the 20mph speed limit in built-up areas and to:
- encourage more people to walk and cycle in our communities
- help to improve health and well-being
- make streets safer
The aim of the trial was to understand the impacts and user perceptions of these zebra crossings and to decide on their potential further use.
The Welsh Government commissioned Vivacity to collect anonymised data on the use of the crossings and to conduct user research, including with disability groups.
Further engagement with Transport for Wales accessibility and inclusion panel was undertaken this summer. The side road zebras used in Cardiff have proved to be popular and are still in place following the trial.
The trials in Cardiff and similar trials undertaken in Manchester and Westminster found no evidence that using a side road zebra crossing would have a significantly greater risk than one using the full range of features and showed a significant increase in drivers giving way to pedestrians compared to a junction without them.
Ken Skates, cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales, said: “The proposed changes to legislation will provide highway authorities with the option of installing a side road zebra crossing at junctions, where both the main and side road have a speed limit of 20mph.
“There is no obligation on highway authorities to use these side road zebra crossings, but the amendments to legislation will allow them to do so where they believe it will improve pedestrian safety.”
A four-week stakeholder consultation has recently been launched and will be closing on the 15th of December.
Further work with stakeholders will be undertaken to draft guidance for highway authorities to support them in deciding when and where to use these side road zebra crossings.
Legislation will be laid before the Senedd in February 2026, and it is proposed that it will come into force during March 2026.
Yes Paul, it would be gross carelessness.. so why are the authorities seemingly endorsing a situation where it is likely that collisions will occur because of this? Are they not aware that gross carelessness by road users is actually behind a lot of collisions? And anyway, I thought we were supposed to be aiming towards a ‘safe system’ which is supposed to make allowances for road users’ mistakes not create situations which makes them more likely.
Hugh Jones, South Wirral
+1
Hugh
If the turning vehicle is indicating then the possibility of it needing to stop should be factored in. Going into the back is gross carelessness.
Paul Luton, Teddington
0
Glad to see Belisha beacons on the way out.They are a relic of the last century and should be replaced by the international sign for a crossing as seen often in TV news programmes from places like Ukraine
Robert Michael Bolt, St Albans
--5
This has not been thought through. This may ‘make streets safer’ in theory…for pedestrians..but what happens when a vehicle turns into, or approaches a side road, unexpectedly stops for a pedestrian crossing at the mouth of the side road, only to be shunted from behind by a close-following vehicle and with the chance of being knocked forward into the pedestrian who was, up to that point, led to believe they were safely crossing the road?
If a police officer witnessed it.. okay, the following driver could be prosecuted for careless driving – on the other hand, so could the first driver who, knowing there was a close- following vehicle behind, had decided not to stop and give way to the pedestrian as required apparently by the Highway Code. This idea could cause more harm than good.
Hugh Jones, South Wirral
--6
It is kinda absurd that this isn’t permissible in the rest of the UK. Hopefully this is seen as a “trial” into getting this made permissible elsewhere.
David Weston, Newcastle upon Tyne
+5