Millions of older people are at risk when crossing the road because they do not have time to get to the other side before the traffic lights change, a charity claimed yesterday as it urged ministers to extend the crossing time at pedestrian crossings by three seconds.
People aged over 65 walk slower than the 1.2m a second assumed walking time that is factored in to most pelican crossings, researchers at University College London found.
Men over the age of 65 walk at an average pace of 0.9m a second and women are even slower, the researchers found. The slower walking speeds mean that 75 per cent of pensioners do not have enough time to cross the road safely, Living Streets charity said.
Tony Armstrong,