The dangers of increased traffic means a range of facilities needed to help pedestrians cross busy roads.
'Warrants for the Installation of Pedestrian Crossing Facilities' is a guide to road authorities and An Garda Síochána, in their decisions relating to the provision and location of pedestrian facilities. The report is issued by the road traffic section of An Foras Forbartha, the National Institute for Physical Planning and Construction.
An obvious way to lessen the hazards that crossing the road presents to the pedestrian is to provide subways under the road, as seen in Ballymun in Dublin. Footbridges over the traffic are commonplace around the country. The use of guard rails on busy roads, as seen on O'Connell Bridge in Dublin funnels pedestrians into a particular area so they cross at one point.
It controls pedestrians only before they've set foot on the lethal roadway.
Drivers are asked to respect pedestrian crossings and pedestrians are expected to use them. However at a zebra crossing in Ranelagh, Dublin,
Respect for that safety appears to be slight on the part of both motorists and walkers.
The wider the road the harder it is for pedestrians to cross, the dual carriageway that is the Naas road being a case in point. Pedestrian facilities such as traffic islands or dividers are recommended in such situations.
Some crossing such as the one in the Dublin suburb of Donnybrook, are push button controlled. It is estimated the average pedestrian is prepared to wait for thirty seconds before crossing. But even so,
The jaywalker like the poor we always have with us.
The most vulnerable pedestrian groups are the over 50s and those under 10 years of age. Reflective armbands for schoolchildren are recommended and some Ballymun schoolboys are keen to wear theirs even during daylight hours.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 9 November 1970. The reporter is John Ross.
