EP0274976A1 - System for signalling pedestrian crossings - Google Patents

Abstract

To induce pedestrians to cross a pedestrian crossing (4) in one-way flows not liable to interfere with each other, the roadway surface markings (9) indicating the crossing are arranged and shaped such as to suggest and indicate appropriate separate one-way lanes (15, 16) for segregating opposite pedestrian traffic; preferably said markings are series transverse to the roadway of chevrons pointed (10, 11) in the appropriate directions.

Along those portions of the lateral edges of the crossing (4) which face oncoming vehicular traffic (2, 3) there are provided stop-line surface markings (5, 6).

Description

• The present invention refers to a system for signalling pedestrian crossings on the paved surfaces of streets, and more particularly for signalling two di­rections of crossing in order to divert the traffic on it towards the respective right-hand side thereof, so that the confusion and the collison between the pedes­trians coming from both sides of the street are preven­ted.
• There are known systems for signalling the paved surfaces of streets with the purpose of establish­ing an area on which pedestrians may cross, known as "zebra crossings" due to their conformation based on light coloured, preferably white, stripes.
• A serious problem presented by this known system, specially in areas in which the traffic beco­mes heavy, lies in that the pedestrians cross in a di­sorderly manner, causing a collision between them. This situation not only causes the pedestrians to be somewhat confused, but remarkably increases the time taken by them to cross from one of the street to the other, so that the vehicular traffic is interrupted for a longer period of time, and the obvious difficulties and risks involved therein are produced.
• Thus, the aim of the present invention is to develop a pedestrian crossing signalling system which eliminates, or at least palliates, the said disadvanta­ges. In accordance with this invention, this is achie­ved inasmuch as the pedestrian crossings are provided with at least two adjacent areas which, due to their special configuration, signal to the pedestrians the preferred direction of crossing, wherefore at least two directions of crossing are determined in adjacent areas of the pedestrian crossing.
• In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the said two directions of crossing are marked out with a plurality of angular strips arreged orthogonally to the direction or directions of vehicular traffic, the vertices of which are opposingly and transversally oriented towards the street curbs.
• Other features and advantages of the inven­tion will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with non-limiting embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying, in which:
• The drawing illustrates a plan view of a pe­destrian crossing, signalled in accordance with the system of the invention.
• The street 1, having directions of vehicular traffic 2 and 3, is provided with a pedestrian crossing 4 controlled or not by traffic lights, the width of which is delimited by two braking strips 5 and 6 extend­ing from each one of the curbs 7 and 8 of the street 1 to approximately the centre thereof.
• In the central part of the said pedestrian crossing 4, there are disposed a plurality of zig-zag strips 9, the vertices 10 and 11 of which are oriented to each one of the curbs 7 and 8 respectively of the street.
• Additionally, there can be provided rectangu­lar strips 12 and 13 having triangular endings 14 which, emerged from the curbs 7 and 8 of the street 1, point towards the concavities of the zig-zag strips 9.
• In this manner, there are formed within the said pedestrian crossing 4, two adjacent areas 15 and 16 extending to one side and the other of the street, always signalling the preferred direction of pedestrian traffic, indicating a dual direction of crossing; where­fore possible collisions between the pedestrians wal­king in one direction and the other to cross the street 1 are prevented.
• As it shall immediately become apparent to those skilled in the art, the said areas 15 and 16, determining the directions of traffic, could be marked with strips having any configuration other than that proposed in the described embodiment, such as arrows and the like.
• Further, it must be mentioned that the said marking elements could be made on the paved surface by means of painting, by means of adhesives, or any other suitable technique, known or to become known.
• Any embodiments introducing changes as to form, size, and materials or any non-fundamental chan­ges, as well as any embodiments resulting from routine technical studies of the disclosure of the present in­vention, shall be understood as included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (2)

1. System for signalling pedestrian crossings, based on signals arranged transversally to the direction or directions of vehicular traffic (2,3) moving between the curbs (7,8) of the street 1, adhered, printed or painted on its paved surface, characterised in that the said pedestrian crossing (4) is provided with at least two like, adjacent areas (15, 16) to divert the traffic on it towards the right-hand side thereof, the said two adjacent areas (15, 16) being marked with opposed direc­tions of crossing, so that the collision between the pedestrians coming from both sides of the street (1) is prevented; and in that the said two areas (15,16) are delimited at their non-common sides, that is to say, the outer sides of the pedestrian crossing (4) by means of marks (5,6) extending from the respective curb (7, 8) of the street (1) to approximately the centre thereof.

2. System for signalling pedestrian crossings according to claim 1, characterised in that the oppo­sed directions of crossing provided in the said adjacent areas (15,16) are preferably determined by means of a plurality of angular lines (9), the vertices (10,11) of which are oriented to each one of the curbs (7,8) respectively of the street (1).

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