Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2016
902. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commission an independent study into the safety of zebra crossings as a potentially efficient and cost-effective measure that could be implemented to assist pedestrians crossing roads, given that some local authorities claim they are unsafe. [26937/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe installation of zebra crossings on regional and local roads is a matter for local authorities, and on national roads, in consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland. I am not aware of any concerns raised by individual local authorities regarding the safety of such crossings.
Controlled crossings, such as zebra crossings have an important role to play in urban areas. While guidance on their use is set out in both the Traffic Management Guidelines (TMG) and the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS), the legal requirements for zebra crossings are set out in the Traffic Signs Manual.
Zebra crossings are generally used on roads where a speed limit of 50 km/h or lower applies but they can also be considered in certain cases on roads where a speed limit of 60 km/h applies. When used appropriately as set out in the TMG and DMURS guidance documents they can function very effectively and contribute to road safety as well as being cost effective.
My Department does not have any plans to undertake a review of zebra crossings at this time as they have a proven record in many countries and suitable advice on their use in Ireland is set out in the TMG and DMURS documents.
