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The green man is set to stay lit for longer

23 August 2023

The Department for Transport has updated its regulations to add that the green man, which indicates when it is safe for pedestrians to cross, will remain lit for 20 per cent longer in order to accommodate individuals with slower mobility.

Currently, the time has been increased from 6.1 to 7.3 seconds as part of a test programme. The exact modifications, originally proposed by Active Travel England (ATE), will be revealed when the change comes into force in September 2023.

ATE CEO Brian Deegan said, “If we don’t give people enough time, they are going to feel they can’t cross the road and that will leave some people feeling that they can’t leave their own house if they don’t have a car.”

A study conducted by the University of College London (UCL) in 2012 found that 76 per cent of men and 85 per cent of women over the age of 65 were unable to cross the road quickly.

Participants in a study by Health Survey for England were found to walk considerably slower than the 1.2 metres per second required to cross a street in the UK. Older males walked at an average speed of 0.9 metres per second and older women walked at 0.8 metres per second.

People with disabilities and health issues affecting their mobility also have difficulty crossing within the current green man time limit.

Obesity also plays a factor in slower mobility, as the proportion of adults in England who are overweight or obese has risen from 52.9 to 64.3 per cent, according to government statistics.

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