A report to last night’s Dubbo City Council works and services committee recommended against a pedestrian crossing, because Windsor Parade, which runs between the Orana Mall and Orana Gardens retirement home, is not busy enough.

The committee has asked council’s traffic committee consider a raised pedestrian crossing, similar to that in Talbragar Street, instead of a zebra crossing.

The report highlighted research from 1993 showing zebra crossings on non-busy roads created an accident rate of two to six times higher.

Motorists became used to the lines painted on the road, and used to not seeing pedestrians using them, council’s technical services director Stewart McLeod said.

By putting in a crossing, “we would be creating a more dangerous situation that what is there now”, he said.

Many councillors reacted with frustration to the report.

“We must listen to the community on this,” Cr Peter Bartley said. “I am incredulous that drivers who regularly drive over pedestrian crossings tend to ignore pedestrians on them - I must live in a different world.”

The $22,000 report - which includes a larger traffic management plan for the whole area - recommended traffic slowing cushions near a pedestrian refuge between the Orana Mall and Orana Gardens retirement home.

Cr Ben Shields called idea of not putting in a crossing “absurd”.

He proposed a successful amendment that will now see the traffic committee forced to consider a raised pedestrian crossing, which would make cars slow down.

“I do see the possibilty of lines on a road being ignored by drivers,” he said. “But a raised hump would force people to slow down.”

Cr Lynn Griffith agreed with the report, and voted against the raised pedestrian crossing.

“The demand is insufficient to meet with RTA support,” she said. “It would be irresponsible for council to disregard the report it ordered.”

The report goes to council’s ordinary meeting on Monday for a final vote.

lynton.grace@ruralpress.com