Did you know that pedestrian crossings in Hoylake have a little button that can help save lives?
Me neither. But having read about them by chance on the BBC website (link at end of this article) I went to investigate along our main road. Hidden from view underneath the control box at a pedestrian crossings is, or rather might be, a little, grooved cone that spins when the green man lights up and when the traffic should stop. When the green man stops flashing the cone stops revolving.
Apparently the cone is there for use by people who are blind or visually impaired and can’t see the lights. Although pedestrian crossings can beep as well as showing the green man not all crossings do. To avoid confusion for instance, crossings that are in close proximity (at a crossroads junction perhaps) don’t beep.
As these spinning cones aren’t a legal requirement, not all crossings have them. So how does your village do? Well I’ve crossed at every crossing in Hoylake and not all crossings have the little cones.
The crossings at Queens Park, Manor Road and Hoylake Library don’t have the cone. But the crossings at Sainsbury’s and at The Quadrant do have them. Give them a try next time you need to cross the main road.
You can read the BBC article here.
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