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Review of current guidance suggests time up for crossing motorways on foot
HSE has published the findings and conclusions of work carried out by HSL to assess the adequacy of current guidance on crossing high speed roads on foot.
The guidance, Crossing high-speed roads on foot during temporary traffic management (CIS53), is aimed at clients, designers and workers involved in road works on motorways/high speed dual carriageways (50mph or greater).
The research comprised: a literature review; observing workers setting up temporary traffic management; and analysis of traffic flow data.
Conclusion
The authors concluded that:
“this project broadly supports the present rules in CIS53 for crossing a carriageway on foot but has found that the traffic flows for many motorways are such that, at most times of day, crossing on foot is impossible.
The distribution of potentially safe gaps can be easily assessed by measuring the traffic flow in terms of vehicles per minute. When the traffic flow across all lanes is less than 20 vehicles per minute it is likely that sufficient safe gaps occur so that workers would not have to wait more than 5 minutes for crossing opportunities.
As the traffic flow increases from 20 up to 40 vehicles per minute it is suggested that some form of site specific assessment is carried out to determine if there are sufficient safe gaps. When the flow is greater than 40 vehicles per minute it is very unlikely that the carriageway can be crossed safely on foot. It should be noted that these flow rates are intended to be used as a guide and are not to be treated as absolute.”