Stop, look and listen: the three words that used to be drilled in to children every time they cross the road are now ignored by almost two thirds (64 per cent) of British adults according to new research out today.
The ‘Street Walk’ study, commissioned by Sheilas’ Wheels car insurance, shows that a ‘just-step-out’ generation has grown up in the UK with nearly half of adults (49 per cent) saying they do not listen before crossing the road, 46 per cent do not stop, while nearly a quarter (23 per cent) do not look both ways. This is even more alarming as 71 per cent of those polled did not know that traffic came from the right in the UK when crossing a road.
The results of this road-blindness are alarming with one in ten Brits (nine per cent) saying they have come into contact with a moving vehicle while crossing the road while a quarter (25 per cent) have had a near miss. Eight per cent of Brits have had a collision with a bicycle while crossing the road and this rises in major cities with the highest bike collision rate in London (at 16 per cent.)
The study found that adults are also unwilling to intervene when they see children crossing badly. Unlike Green Cross Code days, a silent majority emerged with three quarters (72 per cent) of Brits saying they do not intervene when they see children behaving dangerously on the road.
Jacky Brown at Sheilas’ Wheels car insurance commented: “It is shocking to see pedestrians risk their own lives for little more than shaving a few seconds off their journeys as the roads are still as dangerous as they were when we were first taught the Green Cross Code in school.
“Stop, look and listen is timeless advice as it will not only protect our own lives, but also those of other road users and ensure that younger pedestrians do not pick up our risky bad habits.”
As well as the “stop, look and listen” rule, the study revealed that modern-day distractions are also a menace on the roads as 45 per cent of Brits confessed to talking on the phone whilst crossing, 21 per cent admitted texting and a further 29 per cent said they listen to their music. Proving that it is not just technology that is to blame, six per cent of Brits also admitted to reading a book or newspaper while crossing the road.
One in ten men (ten per cent) confessed that they flouted the Green Cross Code because they were distracted by admiring other pedestrians and motorists – which was double the number of women (five per cent) who said the same. The top answer given was being in a hurry, which 44 per cent of Brits said was to blame for their lack of safety.
Other findings from the study show:
– Nine out of ten (90 per cent) Brits polled admit they jay-walk by crossing the road just yards away from a dedicated crossing
– 17 per cent do not know what to do at a pelican crossing and one in five (17 per cent) admit that they do not know the difference between a zebra and pelican crossing
– More than two thirds (71 per cent) of Brits admit to crossing in front of
on-coming traffic
– 86 per cent of Brits cross the road halfway when only one side is clear and 93 per cent cross between parked vehicles
– Over a quarter (28 per cent) of Brits have had to run back to the pavement to avoid on-coming traffic
The research revealed that it is not just urban main roads causing us problems, but also the winding country lanes. Some 86 per cent of pedestrians walk on the inside of a bend along a country road, while 56 per cent have walked with their back to on-coming traffic.
London was revealed as the home of the country’s most dangerous pedestrians with a staggering three quarters (75 per cent) admitting to not stopping, looking and listening before crossing the road. Two thirds (66 per cent) of Londoners also confessed to crossing even when there was on-coming traffic.
The under 25s were the most dangerous pedestrians with 39 per cent admitting to not looking both ways every time they crossed a street, compared to just 15 per cent of over 55s. Nine out of ten (90 per cent) over 55s also knew the difference between a zebra and pelican crossing, while a staggering 42 per cent of under 25s were left scratching their head.
Source : Sheilas’ Wheels Press Release
