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Judge's concern over safety of crossing as driver is cleared of killing pensioner Hazel
Judge Francis Gilbert
A JUDGE has branded one of Plymouth's busiest pedestrian crossings "very hazardous" after the tragic death of a great-great grandmother.
Judge Francis Gilbert QC made his comments at the end of an emotional three-day trial which saw lorry driver Shaun Chaffe acquitted of killing 88-year-old Hazel Edgerton on the central crossing on Royal Parade.
Judge Gilbert urged police and city council officers to consider a redesign to improve safety at the crossing, which links Civic Centre and Guidhall with the Piazza.
The city council last night confirmed it was now planning to meet police to decide if any improvements should be made.
A jury of five men and seven women took two hours yesterday to acquit Mr Chaffe unanimously of causing Mrs Edgerton's death by careless driving on February 26 last year. During the trial at Plymouth Crown Court, they heard how Mrs Edgerton, from Lower Compton, had tried to cross Royal Parade 10 feet from the side of the crossing, only inches from the front of the huge vehicle, just as the lights began to change.
She was knocked down and crushed by Mr Chaffe's 18-tonne refrigerated lorry.
Judge Gilbert told police officers attending the trial: "I go across this crossing three times a week in both directions. In my opinion, a major factor in this fatality was the layout and operation of this crossing."
The judge said that at the top of Royal Parade at St Andrew's Cross, there were separate crossings for each side of the road with an island in between, barriers forcing pedestrians to cross in a safe place and an informative lights system.
He said matters were very different in the centre of Royal Parade, where a hybrid crossing had replaced the old underpass.
He added: "There are no barriers at all on either side for a considerable distance, no satisfactory island, and from the moment you step off you have six seconds if you are lucky and then no guidance until the man goes red. It is not right to blame the deceased, but had she been crossing at the top of Royal Parade, this might not have happened at all."
He urged Inspector Andy Hamilton of Devon and Cornwall Police to talk to the city council about redesigning the crossing to make it safer.
He said he recently saw a woman aged about 70 "ducking through the traffic as the light went green", but luckily a driver saw her and she escaped.
He added: "I really do think it needs re-thinking. I do think it's a very hazardous junction for pedestrians at all times."
The jury had heard that Mr Chaffe, aged 43, of Anson Place in St Judes, had no previous convictions and had held an HGV licence for 12 years.
He drove off not realising he had struck and run over Mrs Edgerton, who was killed instantly.
Mr Chaffe's first action on being released from the dock was to go to Mrs Edgerton's family to apologise.
Later, still in tears, he told The Herald: "I am pleased at this decision but there are no winners in this case. Mrs Edgerton's family are lovely people.
"I went to school at Tamar High with her grandson, and I wish we could have met again in happier circumstances. I asked her family to forgive me, and they have been fine."
Mr Chaffe added: "I hope the council will heed the judge's words to Inspector Hamilton about modifying the crossing."
In a statement to The Herald, Mrs Edgerton's family said: "It's been a terrible time for all concerned in this tragic event which has caused a lot of sadness for both families, as well as the people who witnessed the accident. Our family are glad it is now all over, as it's been hard for everyone to try to move on and put the awful events of February last year behind us.
"Hazel was a lovely mother, gran and great-gran to many, as well as a friend to even more, and is still missed every day.
A city council spokesperson said: "The safety of road users is of paramount importance to the council and we would always work with the police to review the circumstances around any serious injury or fatality on the city's roads.
"The layout of the central pedestrian crossing on Royal Parade was designed to Department for Transport guidelines and conforms to the Traffic Signs, Regulations and General Directions for signalling and signing.
"It also went through three legally required safety audits to ensure its operational safety.
"However, we accept the judge's direction and will be meeting with the police forensic collision investigator to discuss his findings and any improvements he thinks should be made."
Full ArticleJudge Francis Gilbert
A JUDGE has branded one of Plymouth's busiest pedestrian crossings "very hazardous" after the tragic death of a great-great grandmother.
Judge Francis Gilbert QC made his comments at the end of an emotional three-day trial which saw lorry driver Shaun Chaffe acquitted of killing 88-year-old Hazel Edgerton on the central crossing on Royal Parade.
Judge Gilbert urged police and city council officers to consider a redesign to improve safety at the crossing, which links Civic Centre and Guidhall with the Piazza.
The city council last night confirmed it was now planning to meet police to decide if any improvements should be made.
A jury of five men and seven women took two hours yesterday to acquit Mr Chaffe unanimously of causing Mrs Edgerton's death by careless driving on February 26 last year. During the trial at Plymouth Crown Court, they heard how Mrs Edgerton, from Lower Compton, had tried to cross Royal Parade 10 feet from the side of the crossing, only inches from the front of the huge vehicle, just as the lights began to change.
She was knocked down and crushed by Mr Chaffe's 18-tonne refrigerated lorry.
Judge Gilbert told police officers attending the trial: "I go across this crossing three times a week in both directions. In my opinion, a major factor in this fatality was the layout and operation of this crossing."
The judge said that at the top of Royal Parade at St Andrew's Cross, there were separate crossings for each side of the road with an island in between, barriers forcing pedestrians to cross in a safe place and an informative lights system.
He said matters were very different in the centre of Royal Parade, where a hybrid crossing had replaced the old underpass.
He added: "There are no barriers at all on either side for a considerable distance, no satisfactory island, and from the moment you step off you have six seconds if you are lucky and then no guidance until the man goes red. It is not right to blame the deceased, but had she been crossing at the top of Royal Parade, this might not have happened at all."
He urged Inspector Andy Hamilton of Devon and Cornwall Police to talk to the city council about redesigning the crossing to make it safer.
He said he recently saw a woman aged about 70 "ducking through the traffic as the light went green", but luckily a driver saw her and she escaped.
He added: "I really do think it needs re-thinking. I do think it's a very hazardous junction for pedestrians at all times."
The jury had heard that Mr Chaffe, aged 43, of Anson Place in St Judes, had no previous convictions and had held an HGV licence for 12 years.
He drove off not realising he had struck and run over Mrs Edgerton, who was killed instantly.
Mr Chaffe's first action on being released from the dock was to go to Mrs Edgerton's family to apologise.
Later, still in tears, he told The Herald: "I am pleased at this decision but there are no winners in this case. Mrs Edgerton's family are lovely people.
"I went to school at Tamar High with her grandson, and I wish we could have met again in happier circumstances. I asked her family to forgive me, and they have been fine."
Mr Chaffe added: "I hope the council will heed the judge's words to Inspector Hamilton about modifying the crossing."
In a statement to The Herald, Mrs Edgerton's family said: "It's been a terrible time for all concerned in this tragic event which has caused a lot of sadness for both families, as well as the people who witnessed the accident. Our family are glad it is now all over, as it's been hard for everyone to try to move on and put the awful events of February last year behind us.
"Hazel was a lovely mother, gran and great-gran to many, as well as a friend to even more, and is still missed every day.
A city council spokesperson said: "The safety of road users is of paramount importance to the council and we would always work with the police to review the circumstances around any serious injury or fatality on the city's roads.
"The layout of the central pedestrian crossing on Royal Parade was designed to Department for Transport guidelines and conforms to the Traffic Signs, Regulations and General Directions for signalling and signing.
"It also went through three legally required safety audits to ensure its operational safety.
"However, we accept the judge's direction and will be meeting with the police forensic collision investigator to discuss his findings and any improvements he thinks should be made."
Issues here - She was 5ft 2inches tall. Well below the height of the bottom of the windscreen and crossed (not on the crossing) but inches from the lorry. The driver couldn't see her from where he was and she crossed as the lights were changing back to green. You cannot design out the down sides of human nature...people will climb over barriers to take the shortest route even.
(Mind you, the council removed a subway to put that crossing in. Why? Cause the crossing slows down the traffic and makes the city less car friendly. Labour councils!!)
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