At the 2026 CIHT Awards the Westminster City Council Side Road Zebra Trials was Highly Commended in the Research Category.

The trial was developed in response to changes to the Highway Code introduced in 2022, which require drivers to give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross at side roads. While the rule change strengthened pedestrian priority, concerns remained about driver awareness and how consistently the new requirements were being followed. 

Working in partnership, Westminster City Council and transport consultancy NRP examined 18 locations across the borough to understand existing driver behaviour. Monitoring revealed that where no formal crossing markings were in place, compliance with pedestrian priority was often low, with some locations recording compliance rates of around 20%, depending on turning movement.

The project team subsequently installed side road zebra crossings at 11 locations, creating 13 crossings in total. The crossings use simple zebra markings, supported by appropriate tactile paving and visibility improvements where required. 

Post-implementation monitoring revealed substantial improvements in driver behaviour. Average compliance increased to between 70% and 80%, with some movements achieving compliance rates of up to 90%. The findings suggest that relatively small changes to the street environment can help reinforce pedestrian priority and encourage safer driver behaviour. 

The trial also received strong public support. Surveys undertaken with pedestrians found that more than 90% supported the crossings and would like to see similar measures introduced more widely across London. Participants reported improved confidence when crossing side roads and recognised the increase in drivers giving way.

Alongside behavioural monitoring, the project team undertook extensive traffic modelling to understand any impact on vehicle movements. While one location was identified as a potential concern due to high pedestrian volumes, monitoring found that significant congestion did not materialise after implementation.

Speaking on the latest episode of the CIHT Transport Talks podcast, project participants highlighted the wider implications of the findings. The evidence generated in Westminster has already informed discussions in Wales, where side road zebra crossings have been incorporated into guidance, and could help shape future changes to traffic sign regulations in England.

The panel also emphasised the potential benefits for accessibility and active travel. As most pedestrian journeys involve crossing multiple side roads, improving priority at these locations could help create more inclusive streets, particularly for people who find judging vehicle gaps difficult or who lack confidence when crossing busy roads. 

While further work is needed to establish guidance on where side road zebra crossings are most appropriate, the Westminster trial provides compelling evidence that a simple and affordable intervention can deliver significant improvements in pedestrian priority and user experience.

The full discussion is available in the latest episode of the Transport Talks podcast, featuring representatives from Westminster City Council and NRP.

• Keith Furth – Project Director from the transport and engineering team at NRP.
• Dean Gibbs – Associate Director at NRP, who worked closely with contractor FM Conway to manage the physical, on-the-ground implementation of the crossings.
• Dean Walker – Director at NRP and the project manager who led the micro-simulation traffic modeling and data analysis.
• Hayden Tuck – The Client Officer representing Westminster City Council