Humped or narrowed crossings

Crossings can be humped with a flat top, or have the road narrowed at the crossing point. Humped and narrowed crossings can increase safety for pedestrians because many vehicle drivers will feel they need to slow down for these features.

Humped crossings have a flat top which is usually level with the pavement, and tactile paving is used at each end of the crossing. If a zebra crossing is humped, the white stripes are painted across the flat top. There is a ramp leading up and down each side of the crossing for motor vehicles.

The width of crossings can be reduced by narrowing the road (building-out the curb from the pavement). This is really useful where cars are normally parked at the side of the road, as it allows pedestrians to see around the parked cars and check if it is safe to cross. A shorter crossing distance could also make crossing the road safer.

Disadvantages

  • Short humped crossings can cause discomfort for bus passengers
  • Managing water drainage could be complex and costly
  • Buses, cyclists and emergency vehicles will need to reduce their speed for a humped crossings
Humped zebra crossing

Restrictions

  • Highways engineers must check if other roads in the area are suitable to carry extra traffic.

There's also some general restrictions to note for all schemes

Advantages

  • Attempts to reduce vehicle speeds at the same point where pedestrians are crossing the road (where they could be the most vulnerable)
  • Crossing pedestrians become more visible to vehicle drivers
  • Safer and easier for pedestrians with disabilities
Humped zebra crossing close-up

Effectiveness

Humped or narrowed crossings combine traffic calming treatments with pedestrian crossings. This ensures motor vehicles are travelling at their slowest at the same point where pedestrians are crossing. It is one of the best ways to maximise crossing safety for pedestrians.

Humped crossings are very similar to speed tables, and narrowed crossings are similar to road narrowing for traffic calming.

Speed tables are more effective than road narrowing at slowing motor vehicle traffic. Speed tables are, in fact, the most effective way to slow down motor vehicle traffic.

Humped crossings are very likely to be safer then narrowed crossings. However, a crossing can be humped andnarrowed to achieve the benefits from both designs.

Cost:   £6,000 - £12,000 Narrowed crossing upgrade
Cost:   £9,000 - £15,000 Humped crossing upgrade

Humped crossing upgrade requires a Traffic Regulation Order

Also Consider:
Pedestrian Countdown Signals
Countdown signal
Pedestrian countdown timers show the amount of time left to cross the road before the red man appears. This allows pedestrians to decide if they have enough time to cross the road.
Read more > >
Upgrade Zebra beacons
Countdown signal
Pedestrian countdown timers show the amount of time left to cross the road before the red man appears. This allows pedestrians to decide if they have enough time to cross the road.
Read more > >