The NZ Transport Agency, which manages the state highway, has recently constructed a ‘‘pedestrian crossing point'' across Centennial Ave (State Highway 8) near Gregg St. The crossing has a centre refuge, but pedestrian numbers are not high enough for a zebra crossing to be installed so stripes will not be added and pedestrians do not have right of way.
‘‘It's ridiculous. We need a marked crossing there and this hasn't improved safety at all,'' parent Jolanda Williams said last week.
Mrs Williams and another parent, Dora Bartle, had been campaigning for a zebra crossing, to allow safe passage for people living on the Clutha River side of the highway to access schools and sports facilities on the other side.
‘‘It hasn't slowed traffic at all - traffic's still flying through - it'll cause confusion and children will be sitting ducks in that centre refuge,'' Mrs Williams said.
The women plan to continue their campaign.
Agency senior safety engineer Roy Johnston said it was important pedestrians and all road users understood the addition was not a pedestrian zebra crossing and pedestrians did not have right of way.
‘‘It is also important that parents and caregivers understand that children under 12 years old require supervision while on the road.''
Having a crossing point or zebra crossing did not remove this basic need for supervision, as young children had often not developed their judgement enough to use crossings safely, he said.
Research based on crash rates on different pedestrian crossing types showed a crossing point with an island was safer than a zebra crossing as it allowed pedestrians to break the crossing into two parts.
The minimum number to justify a zebra crossing in New Zealand was 50 pedestrians per hour, Mr Johnston said.
