, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales: To
support our vision of safe travel for all, I have approved the
drafting of legislation to allow highway authorities in Wales to
use side road zebra crossings on 20mph roads if they wish to do
so.
This work supports Welsh Government's wider vision of supporting
accessible and inclusive travel for all, where everyone can move
safely and feel safe in their communities.
These crossings will support the 2022 amendments to the Highway
Code requiring drivers to give way to pedestrians who are
crossing or waiting to cross a road into which they are turning.
A side road zebra crossing uses black and white zebra markings
and give way lines but does not have the other features of the
crossings people are more used to such as Belisha beacons or zig
zag markings. Side road zebra crossings can therefore be
installed on the pedestrian's desired walking line, directly
across the mouth of the junction and are significantly cheaper
and quicker to install and maintain.
The side road zebras were trialled in three locations in Cardiff
in 2022 to support the introduction of the 20mph speed limit in
built-up areas and to:
- encourage more people to walk and cycle in our communities
- help to improve our health and well-being
- make our streets safer
The aim of the trial was to understand the impacts and user
perceptions of these zebra crossings and to decide on their
potential further use.
The Welsh Government commissioned Vivacity to collect anonymised
data on the use of the crossings and to conduct user research,
including with disability groups. Further engagement with
Transport for Wales accessibility and inclusion panel was
undertaken this summer. The side road zebras used in Cardiff have
proved to be popular and are still in place following the trial.
The trials in Cardiff and similar trials undertaken in Manchester
and Westminster found no evidence that using a side road zebra
crossing would have a significantly greater risk than one using
the full range of features and showed a significant increase in
drivers giving way to pedestrians compared to a junction without
them.
The proposed changes to legislation will provide highway
authorities with the option of installing a side road zebra
crossing at junctions, where both the main and side road have a
speed limit of 20mph. There is no obligation on highway
authorities to use these side road zebra crossings, but the
amendments to legislation will allow them to do so where they
believe it will improve pedestrian safety.
A four-week stakeholder consultation has recently been launched
and will be closing on the 15th of December. Further
work with stakeholders will be undertaken to draft guidance for
highway authorities to support them in deciding when and where to
use these side road zebra crossings.
Legislation will be laid before the Senedd in February 2026, and
it is proposed that it will come into force during March
2026.
