Zaragoza City Council will install luminous beacons at the zebra crossings on San José Avenue to reinforce road safety and avoid accidents. They will be identical to those that warn of the passage of the tram at points such as Paseo de la Independencia and will be activated when the traffic light turns red for pedestrians. With this measure, the City Council will begin a pilot experience that, if successful, will extend to other parts of the city.
From Plaza del Pilar they claim to be aware that in recent years the way of walking down the street has changed. Many people walk listening to music or looking at their cell phones, distractions that make pedestrians not always pay attention to traffic signs and that are reflected in accident statistics, with more accidents and more serious damage.
Alone on San José Avenue 12 beacons will be installed, covering all pedestrian crossings. The intention is to place them throughout the year, without a date being able to be specified for now, since, although they have already been ordered, the market is “saturated” and there is a lack of ‘stock’, as explained by Road Safety.
The danger on this type of road lies in the fact that traffic flows in one direction and there are bus lanes in the opposite direction, a combination that can be fatal for those who cross improperly. With these new safety elements, the pedestrian will not only perceive the red traffic light, but will also see flashing warnings on the ground, a reinforcement that will be especially useful at night.
The City Council hopes to transfer the good results of the tram beacons – present in 17 pedestrian crossings, 100% of those established in the safety studies of line 1 – to this type of streets, which concentrate many of the accidents recorded. in recent years. After San José Avenue it will be the turn of Valencia Avenue. In this case, the installation would be linked to the reform that is intended to be carried out. This will allow you to evaluate its effectiveness beforehand, which is key when it comes to ‘export’ the measure to Conde de Aranda or Madrid Avenue.
It is also planned that this year they will install the first illuminated zebra crossings, a measure that already appeared in the previous year’s budget and that has been demanded on numerous occasions by parties such as Vox.
30 zebra crossings cleared in 6 months
The latest fatal accidents recorded in the urban area – with ten deaths in 2022 and the same number in 2023 – have caused the City Council to go ahead with the expected and demanded road safety plan, which could be approved in the coming months. and has begun to take reinforcing measures.
According to what the City Council explains, in the last half year 30 pedestrian crossings with visibility problems have been cleared, opting for parking spaces for motorcycles. In addition, the traffic lights and vertical and horizontal signaling at the intersection of Argualas and Isabel la Católica have been modified, where a 14-year-old boy on a scooter lost his life after being hit by a bus. In this case, it has been decided to ensure that there is a time reserved for pedestrians and bike lane users to cross while the vehicles leaving and entering Argualas are present. stopped at a red light.
As it entails a change in routine for drivers traveling in the area, the City Council has chosen to reinforce the previous signage to warn them that it is necessary to pay attention to the new configuration of the crossing. Bus drivers and associations have been demanding changes since the tragic accident, which occurred in November 2022. However, Road Safety emphasizes that, although there is a commitment to review this type of turn, the solution adopted in Argualas is not, per se, applicable to everyone equally.
The workshop proposals, in validation
The proposals collected in the three participation workshops framed in the future road safety plan –focused on pedestrians, vulnerable vehicles and those in the workplace– They are being technically validated for possible incorporation into the document.
According to the delegate councilor for the area, Ruth Bravo, this plan will give Zaragoza the information necessary to act at the points with the highest accident rate and determine the confluence of causes that occur in each of them with the aim of providing the best solutions.
According to the mayor, in accidents “a confluence of factors” always occurs. However, and with the aim of avoiding this type of accident, the City Council has begun to apply new formulas in the design of the city and in the reforms of large avenues.
This policy translates into a commitment to winding lanes to force vehicles to slow downthe elevation of pedestrian crossings at crossings, better lighting to improve visibility or the creation of ‘lugs’ that expand the space for the pedestrian.
