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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 24th SEPTEMBER 2013
Question
Further to his reply to my written question of 10th September 2013 regarding alterations to the junction at La Route du Fort/St Clement's Road as a result of a request by St Luke's school, would the Minister advise whether his department counted the number of children using that junction concurrently with their vehicle count and supply the details, or, if they were not counted, explain why not?
Would the Minister confirm that, given the young age of the children (eleven or under) and the fact that to reach the junction they first have to cross Beach Road and walk beside a very busy main road carrying heavy vehicles, the number of children crossing the St Clement road junction alone is likely to be minute?
Answer
Whilst the issue of crossing St Clement's Road at La Route du Fort junction was highlighted in St Luke's School Travel Plan, the alterations being made will assist all pedestrians, especially those with limited mobility, who need to cross the road.
A survey of pedestrian crossing movements was carried out; however the number of pupils was not separated out from the number of other pedestrians using the junction. It was not considered necessary to record the ages of pedestrians using the junction, as the pedestrian facilities are for the use of all pedestrians.
As a general rule children 10 or over are considered to be able to judge speed and distance, and can walk to school unaccompanied, albeit parents should judge the ability of individual children. Children under the age of 10 should be accompanied by an adult who should teach them road craft whilst walking them to school. Beach Road is a lightly trafficked one way road which is significantly easier to cross than the two way road that is the southern leg of St Clement Road. Provision of such pedestrian facilities is consistent with the States of Jersey Sustainable Transport Policy, which aims to encourage walking as a mode of transport for short journeys.
Whilst I am unable to confirm exactly how many children will use the new crossing, I can confirm that the numbers of all pedestrians taking advantage of the new crossing facility, young or old, parents or children, will be an average of 18 per hour, compared to the number of motor vehicles diverted onto other routes averaged at 8.8 per hour. These averages are calculated from surveys taken before the works commenced, and do not include any supressed pedestrian demand that is likely to add to these figures once the facility is in place.