Campaigners may lose fight for tragic Joe’s crossing (From Southend Standard)
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Campaigners may lose fight for tragic Joe’s crossing in Westcliff
7:00am Monday 9th July 2012 in Echo News
By Stephen Hackwell
Joseph Ball
INSTALLING a new crossing at the spot where a six-year-old boy was killed could make the road more dangerous, council bosses have claimed.
Breaking their silence for the first time since Joseph Ball died last year, highways experts at Southend Council warned a campaign to improve safety could actually have the opposite effect.
Joseph was killed when he was struck by a biker as he crossed London Road, Westcliff, in October.
The tragedy prompted more than 10,000 people to sign a petition calling for improvements.
But Andrew Lewis, the council’s corporate director for enterprise, tourism and the environment, said bosses thought it would make the situation worse.
He said: “It can be the case that incredibly well-intentioned initiatives actually have unintended consequences. That is clearly the last thing we want to do.
“With that in mind, we have set out all the options available to councillors so they can make a reasoned decision.”
In the wake of Joseph’s death, council chiefs promised a full investigation into whether additional safety measures were needed at the accident site.
Their new report, which will be discussed by councillors next week, is the culmination of that process.
Although no firm recommendations are made in the document, bosses set out the case against a new crossing.
Statistics show that, on average, crossings generate nearly one incident every year as drivers try to beat traffic lights and pedestrians become careless.
That means, unless a targeted site already has a serious history of problems, it theoretically increases the chances of an accident if a crossing is installed.
At the spot where Joseph died, near the junction with Balmoral Road, there have only been five other incidents in the past few years.
Other options put forward by council chiefs include holding special classes with pupils at Joseph’s primary school, Milton Hall, to teach them about road safety, and installing fresh safety signs in London Road.
However, even with such measures, Tony Cox, the Tory councillor responsible for transport, pointed out Joseph could still have died.
He said: “We have to remember this tragedy was caused by a man who was speeding, unlicensed and should not have been on the road.
“Nothing we do can mitigate for that.
“However, I want to emphasise the emotions officers have been through when dealing with this case.
“This has not been easy for anyone, and no decision has been taken lightly.”
Comments(19)
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
9:40am Mon 9 Jul 12
What is needed is better education all round. Educate drivers to expect pedestrians walking into the road in busy town centre areas and to drive accordingly, educate pedestrians how to cross roads safely.
I would still advocate a blanket 20mph limit for the town centre with exceptions being Queensway and Victoria Avenue.
PJR-121
says...
10:03am Mon 9 Jul 12
Better education in crossing a road safely is needed though. Most drivers are aware that pedrestrians should stop, look and listen, and don't expect them to just run out.
However, drivers too need to be aware of speed limits in busy areas.
EssexBoy1968
says...
12:45pm Mon 9 Jul 12
Max Impact
says...
1:43pm Mon 9 Jul 12
We can't have crossing at every point people wnat them, there is a cross a few dozen yards further on from where the accident took place.
Shocking that the first five comments are all in agreement!
Keptquiettillnow
says...
5:55pm Mon 9 Jul 12
I wouldnt mind seeing another crossing put in, but then I am not to bothered about moaning car drivers complaining because they might have to slow down a bit.
Max Impact
says...
7:06pm Mon 9 Jul 12
A 20mph blanket on speeds is ot feasable its one of the main roads into and out of Southend at 20mph it would become choked with slow moving cars, buses and lorrys the fumes would be horrendous.
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
7:17pm Mon 9 Jul 12
Max Impact wrote:It's already choked with slow moving cars, buses, and lorries. I drove along there today from Southchurch, all the way along the London Road, on my way to Basildon. Traffic did not get above 20mph until past Hadleigh.
There is no need for another crossing there is one not more than 200ft away its a short distance to walk to be safe.
A 20mph blanket on speeds is ot feasable its one of the main roads into and out of Southend at 20mph it would become choked with slow moving cars, buses and lorrys the fumes would be horrendous.
perini
says...
7:19pm Mon 9 Jul 12
Max Impact wrote:Why? Any number of crossings would not have prevented this tragedy! Its a knee jerk reaction to a problem that does not exist. Teaching kids the green cross code and reducing speed limits would not have stopped that idiot riding the motorcycle!
I also agree that a crossing at this point would probably not have prevented this accident.
We can't have crossing at every point people wnat them, there is a cross a few dozen yards further on from where the accident took place.
Shocking that the first five comments are all in agreement!
southendshrimper
says...
7:19pm Mon 9 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
7:34pm Mon 9 Jul 12
southendshrimper wrote:The best way is to teach children how to safely cross a road. Period.
Another crossing is not the answer. People will speed & go through red lights all the time. I am not saying all drivers/cyclists do it it is the minority. What happened was tragic but would a crossing have saved him. No offence to the parents they could & should have gone up to one of the two crossings provided. These days so many parents bow to there child's every whim. If there is a crossing to use I always use it with my children even if it's clear I make them wait for a green man. I do my best to drum it into them when they are young its the best way.
Find a place where there are no parked cars so you can see a long way along the road in both directions.
Look right, look left, look right again.
If no cars are coming in either direction then briskly walk straight across still looking right and left.
They need to learn that because there isn't always a zebra crossing.
jayman
says...
9:57pm Mon 9 Jul 12
isn't it time we have proper debate about school locations and catchments.
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
11:55pm Mon 9 Jul 12
jayman wrote:Good thinking. Don't address the problem of dangerous driving, just move the schools.
i think the council need to look at the spread and location of schools in this area. to my knowledge you have barons court, St Helens, Milton hall and ST Mary's schools all in close proximity and all using the London road as a major route to and from the schools.
isn't it time we have proper debate about school locations and catchments.
Genius.
Max Impact
says...
11:57pm Mon 9 Jul 12
perini wrote:Erm I do actually say we don't need a crossing at that point.
Max Impact wrote:Why? Any number of crossings would not have prevented this tragedy! Its a knee jerk reaction to a problem that does not exist. Teaching kids the green cross code and reducing speed limits would not have stopped that idiot riding the motorcycle!
I also agree that a crossing at this point would probably not have prevented this accident.
We can't have crossing at every point people wnat them, there is a cross a few dozen yards further on from where the accident took place.
Shocking that the first five comments are all in agreement!
I also pointed out that there is a crossing just along the road so having another one so close would be pointless.
Just saying!
bigboy57
says...
1:10pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:i like to know if anyone was killed or hurt on this strech of road i dont think so its got be 20 mph
Max Impact wrote: There is no need for another crossing there is one not more than 200ft away its a short distance to walk to be safe. A 20mph blanket on speeds is ot feasable its one of the main roads into and out of Southend at 20mph it would become choked with slow moving cars, buses and lorrys the fumes would be horrendous.It's already choked with slow moving cars, buses, and lorries. I drove along there today from Southchurch, all the way along the London Road, on my way to Basildon. Traffic did not get above 20mph until past Hadleigh.
jayman
says...
1:16pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:oh sorry... I opened up the concept of debate regarding the issue. i apologise sincerely for my momentary absent mindedness and poor judgement,
jayman wrote:Good thinking. Don't address the problem of dangerous driving, just move the schools.
i think the council need to look at the spread and location of schools in this area. to my knowledge you have barons court, St Helens, Milton hall and ST Mary's schools all in close proximity and all using the London road as a major route to and from the schools.
isn't it time we have proper debate about school locations and catchments.
Genius.
having high volumes of children walking down the footpaths of the London road at school pick up and drop off time which coincides with rush hours has no bearing on safety consideration whatsoever..
Max Impact
says...
2:22pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
3:37pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Max Impact
says...
6:59pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Simples...
mr_happy says...
9:18am Mon 9 Jul 12
What is needed is more common sense by the pedestrian in general. People just walk out into the road, expecting a driver to stop instantly. If you do not give way to them, you receive a dirty look. It is no good intalling a crossing everywhere a person gets hurt of killed.
My heart goes out to the family, but it is about time parents instructed children to cross the road safely. There used to be TV adverts for teaching children to cross roads. Would it not be a better idea to do this again instead of showing stupid adverts for face creams, football, miss-sold PPI's and all that other sh1t?