Enhanced junction designs “make it clear to drivers that they need to give way”

A recently completed research project has identified two side road crossing designs that encourage drivers to give way to people crossing and waiting to cross – as required by the Highway Code since January 2022.
The project was carried out by academics at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), with funding provided by The Road Safety Trust.
The researchers set out to understand the impacts of enhanced side road designs that both increase priority and reduce risk for people walking and cycling. It is particularly significant because of changes to the Highway Code that came into effect from 29 January 2022.
These changes mean drivers turning in or out of a side road should now give way not only to pedestrians and cyclists who are crossing, but also to waiting pedestrians and approaching cyclists.
The research team from UWE Bristol’s Centre for Transport and Society, observed behaviour at different types of side road crossing and revealed two designs where drivers were more likely to give way:
- Marked Priority crossings with so-called ‘parallel crossings’ that have a zebra for pedestrians and priority markings for the cycle track crossing.
- Design Priority crossings, also called continuous footways, where priority is reinforced by the layout and surface materials.
With both of these enhancements, people crossing did not have to yield to drivers in approximately 90% of interactions compared with 43% of interactions at conventional junctions.
The researchers found that users realise the importance of Marked Priority and Design Priority enhancements being implemented consistently and appropriately across the country in order to minimise ambiguity and confusion.
The project was led by John Parkin, professor of transport engineering and deputy director of the Centre for Transport and Society at UWE Bristol.
Professor Parkin said: “Many side road junctions are designed mainly with movement for vehicles on the carriageway in mind, and they have generous corner radii and wide carriageways. The key point is that priority for people crossing, as required by the Highway Code, is not clear from the design.
“The project explored the use of priority markings that make it clear to drivers that they need to give way to pedestrians and cyclists who are crossing a side road. These are give way markings placed before the pedestrian and/or cycle track crossing, and sometimes also a zebra crossing for pedestrians.
“The findings have been compared with previous research on priority that has been enhanced by the design having a raised footway and/or cycle track that is continuous across the side road.
“On nearly half of occasions at conventional junctions, people crossing yielded voluntarily to turning drivers. The effect of enhanced junctions was to reduce this proportion and created more occasions when drivers gave way to people crossing. Both Marked Priority designs with a zebra, and Design Priority designs (continuous footways) increased the proportion of times people did not yield to vehicles from around 50% at control sites to around 90%.”
Sonya Hurt, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, said: “When it comes to encouraging more people to walk and cycle, safety is paramount.
“We are delighted with the outcomes from this project, including recommendations for side road crossing designs most likely to encourage drivers to give way, thereby reducing risk for those travelling by foot or on bike.”
To find out more about the project, visit The Road Safety Trust website.
Related news

11 February 2025
Comics could help explain science in court, study finds
Comics explaining the complexities of forensic science in simple terms could improve understanding for jurors in court cases, research conducted at UWE Bristol suggests.

06 February 2025
Opinion: ‘We’re ensuring people have access to diverse images for healthcare’
Flicking through the pages of academic medical textbooks back in 2022, our team spotted a surprising omission: a stark absence of images of health conditions on darker skin tones.

03 February 2025
Groundbreaking UWE Bristol project based on children’s lived experiences of racism in the UK set to transform police training
UWE Bristol researchers have worked with over 1,000 primary-aged children to explore everyday experiences of racism to inform future police training.

30 January 2025
Women exercising in gyms face barriers including body image and harassment, study finds
Women exercising in gyms often feel judged for their appearance and performance, leading to a persistent sense of inadequacy, according to a new study.

22 January 2025
Can DIY greening solutions transform your street and combat climate change?
Do-it-yourself (DIY) greening kits could help safeguard the country's most vulnerable communities from the impacts of a rapidly changing environment, according to a new project supported by UWE Bristol.

14 January 2025
UWE Bristol secures British Council grant to strengthen educational ties with three leading Nigerian universities
UWE Bristol has secured a British Council Transnational Education (TNE) grant to work collaboratively with three of Nigeria’s foremost universities.

03 January 2025
Big leap forward for environmentally friendly ‘e-textiles’ technology
Research led by UWE Bristol and the University of Southampton has shown wearable electronic textiles (e-textiles) can be both sustainable and biodegradable.

19 December 2024
UWE Bristol academic appointed honorary professor at prestigious Danish university
A UWE Bristol researcher has been appointed an honorary professor at a prestigious university in Denmark.

18 December 2024
Opinion: Christmas… are you ‘totally sleighing it’ or wondering ‘what the elf’?
Could singing in a group bring a moment of calm and boost your mood this Christmas?

10 December 2024
ONS Research Excellence award win for UWE Bristol data research group
UWE Bristol’s Data Research, Access, and Governance Network (DRAGoN) has won the Organisational Excellence Award at the 2024 Office of National Statistics (ONS) Research Excellence Awards.

04 December 2024
UWE Bristol to lead £1.3 million project to evaluate the use of phone app to help with back pain
UWE Bristol will lead a £1.3 million project to evaluate the effectiveness of using an NHS-recommended smart phone app to help people suffering with low back pain.

28 November 2024
Work of UWE Bristol academics features in Government report on air quality measurement
Two UWE Bristol academics have made contributions to an influential Government report on the measurement of air pollution.
You may also be interested in

Find an expert
Media contacts are invited to check out the vast range of subjects where UWE Bristol can offer up expert commentary.

Media enquiries
Enquiries related to news releases and press and contacts for the media team.

Centre for Transport and Society (CTS)
More information about the Centre for Transport and Society, including research projects, transport courses, news, events and opportunities.

Breaking research boundaries
We’re tackling the big issues of today and tomorrow head on. This is big, brave thinking for a better future. It’s research done well. Research with the power to transform lives, transform the future.