What is the visibility zone of a pedestrian crossing?

What it is

A pedestrian crossing is a section of a highway that is intended for pedestrians to cross the roadway and is marked with a road sign of the same name and/or special markings on the roadway itself. Also, this element can be made in the form of an artificially created structure to provide the opportunity for pedestrians to cross to the opposite side of the road without crossing the roadway.

A specialized road sign exists in two versions: a person moves to the left (5.19.1) and to the right (5.19.2).

The basic requirements and rules for the arrangement of pedestrian crossings according to GOST in Russia are recorded in document 32944-2014.

Autonomous lighting of pedestrian crossings: advantages, description, goals

Modern road surfaces are increasingly being designed taking into account the practicality of operating lighting devices, as well as the minimal use of expensive sources of electricity. Thus, lighting of pedestrian crossings using solar eco-batteries is the most popular option.

Read on topic: Fuel consumption of UAZ Patriot

Street lights using solar alternative power sources are most often used in areas with long sunny days, since the efficiency of such a lighting device directly depends on the amount of sunlight flow.

In what cases is it necessary

To organize the crossing of the road by persons on foot, there must be certain indicators of the intensity of traffic of road users:

• for eight consecutive hours on a working day, the intensity of traffic flow is 600 units per hour or more (for roads with a dividing strip - 1000 units per hour) on the main road in both directions;
• or 150 citizens per hour crossing the roadway for the same 8 hours.

If these parameters are not achieved, then there is no reason to create a pedestrian zone on the road.

Reference. The width of a pedestrian crossing located on the ground part of the road must be at least 2.5 m.

Also, the creation of these sections in populated areas is required when, over the past year, at least three accidents have occurred at an intersection related to vehicle collisions with citizens crossing the road, which could have been avoided if there was a zone for pedestrians.

What is the visibility zone of a pedestrian crossing?

The essence of the case came down to challenging paragraph.
3 clause 4.3 of the traffic rules, which provides for the possibility, if there is no crossing or intersection in sight, to cross the road at right angles to the edge of the roadway in areas without a dividing strip and fences (provided that the road is clearly visible in both directions). The applicant was fined 500 rubles. for crossing the road in the wrong place when there is a pedestrian crossing nearby, considered that this provision contains difficult and burdensome requirements, as well as legal and linguistic uncertainty. Should a driver compensate for damage caused to a pedestrian injured in an accident caused by the latter’s gross negligence? Find out from the Home Legal Encyclopedia in the online version of the GARANT system. Get free access for 3 days!

The statement of claim emphasized that the current legislation does not have a legal definition of the concept of “visibility zone” of a pedestrian crossing, and State Traffic Inspectorate inspectors evaluate it at their own discretion. This, according to the applicant, allows us to consider such a concept as a category of an evaluative nature.

The decision to impose administrative liability in the form of a fine was appealed administratively and judicially, but the courts generally recognized the application of sanctions under Part 1 of Art. 12.29 of the Administrative Code for a violation, indicating only that in this case a warning, not a fine, was sufficient. Then the plaintiff appealed to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, which also in its decision dated April 10, 2019 No. AKPI19-19 recognized paragraph. 3 clause 4.3 of traffic rules that do not contradict current legislation. The court emphasized that the legal regulation contained in the contested norm corresponds to the current legislation in the field of safety and traffic management and cannot be considered as violating the rights of the administrative plaintiff.

However, the applicant was not satisfied with this decision and filed an appeal. Yesterday a hearing was held on the case, as a result of which the Appeals Board of the RF Supreme Court upheld the decision previously rendered by the RF Supreme Court. The relevant information appeared today in the electronic reference book on the website of the RF Armed Forces.

Thus, the Court once again called on all pedestrians to comply with the rules for crossing the road established in the traffic rules - in particular, to cross the roadway only at specially equipped pedestrian crossings if they are in sight.

Kinds

There are two types of crossings for pedestrians, each of which has its own subtypes. They share:

• according to the method of citizens crossing the roadway, location on the roadway, clearance level of transport and pedestrians;
• by the presence of a safety island;
• according to the degree of elimination of conflict situations.

The basic requirements for pedestrian crossings in accordance with GOST 32944 2014 regulate the arrangement of this section of the road.

The first type is further divided into three categories:

1. Unregulated ground - a certain section of the road that is intended for citizens to cross the roadway with the presence of appropriate designations in the form of a sign and/or horizontal road markings.
2. The adjustable type is equipped with a traffic light system.
3. A multi-level pedestrian zone ensures that citizens can cross the road without moving along the roadway (underground or above ground).

Based on the presence of a safe island, zones are divided into:

• without island;
• with a dedicated island and pedestrian crossing of the road;
• with a dedicated island and a curved intersection for the movement of pedestrians.

According to the level of conflict elimination, walking areas are divided into:

• regulated with a conflicting scheme for controlling the movement of pedestrians (when the traffic light turns green, the movement of right- and left-turn vehicles is allowed at the same time, but drivers must give way to pedestrians);
• regulated with a conflict-free scheme (when the signal is green, pedestrians do not interfere with the flow of traffic). One of the options for such a zone is a section of the road when traffic completely stops and pedestrians cross the roadway. It's called a full pedestrian phase crossing.

Where are they located?

Markings of pedestrian zones on highways should not be located in front of the doors of shops, walk-through organizations, school gates or other children's institutions that are located nearby. In such a situation, a pedestrian crossing fence in accordance with GOST (second group) is installed on their way, and the flow of pedestrians turns along the sidewalk for 20-30 meters (preferably against the traffic flow).

Attention: Crosswalks must not be located in areas of roads and streets where the standard indicator of visibility of oncoming vehicles on curves in plan and convex curves in profile has not been achieved. If these requirements are not met, then the speed of vehicles must be limited.

In those areas where pedestrian traffic is carried out along the dividing strip, it is necessary to install separated crossings by installing pedestrian barriers that direct pedestrians towards traffic traffic.

Responsibilities of a pedestrian at a pedestrian crossing according to traffic regulations

The fact is that this question is very specific and it is impossible to immediately give an unambiguous answer to it. But we will try to figure this out.

And the first thing that will help us understand this issue is, of course, the Road Traffic Rules (TRAF). And in paragraph 4 everything is clearly, briefly, succinctly and fully described.

Everything seemed very clear. However, we still have some questions regarding the process of crossing the road itself. In principle, if you look at it, everything is quite clear. The responsibilities of a pedestrian are as follows:

• You must not interfere with vehicles.
• You should only cross in clearly marked areas.
• Reason logically.
• Follow the orders of the traffic controller or traffic light.

Now let's look at this nuance, what to do if you are still at an unregulated crossing and there is neither a traffic controller nor a traffic light, and in principle we will fully analyze the question that was addressed to us. Here's what you need to do.

1. First of all , make sure that you are in the best visible place during daylight hours, where you can see the road in both directions. Everything is clear here. If there is no turn or sharp twist in the road and it does not drop down somewhere or goes up, then you can safely cross.
2. The second thing you need to understand is whether there is some kind of obstacle on the road. Or it is a dividing strip in the form of a lawn. Or these are some kind of pillars or bump stops, so-called. Then in this place you cannot cross the road, because basically it is either a highway or some very busy traffic and there is 100% a controlled pedestrian crossing nearby - either an underground or an overground version.
3. The third thing you need to decide on is the transition angle itself. And it should be straight, that is, this is how you go, this is how you go. Do not take any shortcuts, do not mow them, and cross the road strictly perpendicular to it. And let's now summarize everything we said above.

If the road is clearly visible in both directions, there are no obstacles on its way, there are no approaching cars, you will not create interference and you are simply moving in a straight direction, then crossing the road would seem completely legal.

But there is one important “but” that does not give anyone peace in this matter. Namely, this is the presence of a pedestrian crossing, pedestrian path, underground or overground pedestrian crossing in your visibility zone.

Modernization

The existing system for organizing pedestrian sections of roads is imperfect. Today, it has been decided to modernize it by introducing certain amendments to the law.

On the official website of the traffic police they proposed to improve the system with reference to the current rules and regulations. Many pedestrian crossings in Russia are not equipped correctly, so they are currently being extensively inspected by state traffic inspectors. A list of comments is also compiled in order to eliminate them.

Pedestrian safety depends on the intensity of traffic flow. And the number of cars increases significantly every year. Therefore, it is necessary to reconsider the systems of zones for pedestrians in each specific locality and throughout the country.

In addition, the occurrence of emergency situations is influenced by the degree of discipline of all road users in the aggregate. First of all, you should start with them - to form the correct view of the procedure for crossing a roadway or pedestrian zone. Having a perfect system will not help if citizens behave undisciplined on the road.

Interesting: The State Traffic Inspectorate suggested holding educational conversations in school institutions to inform children about correct behavior on the roadway.

A proposal has also been put forward to install warning signs, increase the visibility of zebra crossings and take other measures to increase the visibility of pedestrian sections of roads.

Design of lighting for an unregulated pedestrian crossing

Particular attention should be paid to the design of lighting for a pedestrian crossing without a traffic light (unregulated). In this case, sufficient lighting is the key to safety for both the pedestrian and the driver himself.

The design of an uncontrolled crossing for a pedestrian is carried out in the form of installing L-shaped pillars, with lighting support (variable with motion sensors or constant diode).

The site has a pedestrian sign (signboard) and light strips located above the zebra crossing on both sides for the driver of a vehicle. In this case, the green light means the road is free, the red light means a pedestrian is walking. Signs and L-shaped posts are located in four places: on both sides of the pedestrian crossing.

Read on topic: Geogrid for road construction

The design of pedestrian crossing lighting is a guarantee of safety for all road users, a factor that reduces the risk of fatal accidents.

Sanctions for violating the rules for passing pedestrian zones

If the driver violates traffic rules in the field of road traffic itself, then the amount of the penalty is calculated in ruble equivalent in accordance with the current Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

For failure to comply with the conditions for yielding the road to a pedestrian, cyclist or other road users, an administrative fine in the amount of 1,500 rubles is imposed.

It is important to know: For failure to allow pedestrians transporting children to pass, the sanctions will be 3 thousand rubles. A 50% discount applies to early payment of fines.

For parking a car at a crossing and at a distance of less than 5 m in front of it, the driver will be fined 1 thousand rubles.

You can cross the road where you want only if...

... that the road crossing is not in the pedestrian's field of vision. Two years ago, in the center of Samara, a citizen was fined for crossing the road in the wrong place, that is, not at a pedestrian crossing. A fine in the amount of 500 rubles was issued under Part 1 of Article 12.29 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation:

Violation of traffic rules by a pedestrian or passenger of a vehicle -

entails a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five hundred rubles.

For crossing the roadway within the visibility zone of a pedestrian crossing outside the zebra crossing itself.

The plaintiff considered that there is no legal definition of the concept of “visibility zone” of a pedestrian crossing in the legislation, which introduces an ambiguous interpretation of the law by State Traffic Inspectorate employees, who begin to be guided by their subjective opinion when determining the visibility or invisibility of a pedestrian crossing.

Also, the violating pedestrian who filed the complaint continues, the authority to determine the “visibility zone” of a pedestrian crossing is not granted to traffic police officers by the current regulations.

“The government representative considered the claim not subject to satisfaction, explaining that the contested normative legal act was issued within the scope of its powers, complies with the current legislation and does not violate the rights of the plaintiff. The Prosecutor General’s Office also asked to reject the stated demands,” writes the website auto.mail.ru.