Pedestrian deaths at Abbey Road crossing

[snopes]

Comment: Abbey Road in London is famous for having the Beatles' last
studio album named after it. On the cover of the album is the iconic
photograph showing the four Beatles striding across the pedestrian
crossing outside the Abbey Road Studios. Many fans try to recreate this
photograph by walking across the crossing. However, Wikipedia's entry on
Abbey Road gives the following rather alarming information:

"Dozens of people are involved in accidents each year re-enacting the
iconic photo, including a number of deaths.[citation needed] Since 1969,
there have been over a hundred deaths at the crossing (although many of
these may not have been Beatles-enthusiasts, but merely
passers-by).[citation needed]"

Over one hundred deaths on a single pedestrain crossing in 40 years? This
seems extremely unlikely. The type of crossing used is known in the UK as
a 'zebra' crossing due to the black and white markings on the road and by
law all traffic must stop when a pedestrian walks out into the road when
using it. It will be visible from some distance due to the large orange
flashing globes on tall metal poles standing on both sides of the
crossing. The crossing will also be well illuminated at night. The
crossing is also in a residential neighbourhood with a 30 mph limit.

With over 100 deaths, knowing the safety conscious British Authorities
this crossing would have surely been changed at some point (tourist
attraction or not) to a pedestrian operated traffic light crossing or at
least speed bumps or some other safety measure installed. Yet it remains
exactly as it was in 1969. This number of deaths smells very fishy to
me. - it averages 2.5 a year, far too high for the local council not to
have removed it. How many deaths have there been on this crossing?

[Andrew of Ware]

A few days ago it was the 40th anniversary of the famous photograph being taken. There has been a lot of coverage on television about the photograph (and probably the papers as well) - but not a mention of any accidents. Local residents were interviewed. They mentioned how annoying it is with people recreating the photograph, but none mentioned anything about accidents. Britain's roads are the safest in the world and I am sure we would not allow a crossing that is dangerous. The vast majority of British motorists observe zebra crossing rules very strictly.

A television report on the anniversary did say that the street name plate has been removed because whenever it is replaced it is stolen soon after.

Pop fans still cross Abbey Road (short BBC video)

On the video a taxi driver says that 'One day someone will get mown down.' However, he did not mention that anyone has actually been killed on the crossing.

A Day in the Life of Abbey Road - a slightly longer video report of the above This includes an interview with a lady from Westminster City Council and she mentions the problem of graffiti, but again nothing about any accidents.

Street party for Abbey Road anniversary (BBC News video)

I would say it's probably safer than most other crossings. Most people driving round there would know about it anyway, and you're more likely to notice 4 people posing + someone with a camera then you are to see someone crossing the road normally.

[Jay Tea]

Originally Posted by Andrew of Ware

Britain's roads are the safest in the world and I am sure we would not allow a crossing that is dangerous.

Really? I thought the UK had quite a high RTA rate, and were up in the highest echelons regarding cyclist deaths, for example?

ETA: Just a quick glance at statistics reveals the UK being 'very' high in terms of accidents per mile travelled, but very low in terms of fatalities per capita.

Figures for 2004.

[SatansHobbit]

Bang, Bang, Maxwell's silver Hummer came down upon their heads...

[Floater]

And little did they know how many followers they'd get.

[SatansHobbit]

Originally Posted by Floater

And little did they know how many followers they'd get.

We even had an Alaskan snopester doing it once.

[Richard W]

Originally Posted by Jay Tea

ETA: Just a quick glance at statistics reveals the UK being 'very' high in terms of accidents per mile travelled, but very low in terms of fatalities per capita.

Figures for 2004.

Where's the "very high" bit from? The last column in that table is deaths per billion km travelled, and although it's not sorted on that column (and the figure's not available for every country), the UK's figure is the lowest in the table at 7.5, unless I've missed a lower one. And we're fourth-best in deaths per capita among the countries listed too.

So in fact, according to that table, we are safest among the listed countries as far as deaths per distance travelled is concerned, and fourth safest in terms of deaths per capita.

[Jay Tea]

Originally Posted by Richard W

Where's the "very high" bit from? The last column in that table is deaths per billion km travelled, and although it's not sorted on that column (and the figure's not available for every country), the UK's figure is the lowest in the table at 7.5, unless I've missed a lower one. And we're fourth-best in deaths per capita among the countries listed too.

So in fact, according to that table, we are safest among the listed countries as far as deaths per distance travelled is concerned, and fourth safest in terms of deaths per capita.

'Very High' was from a completely different set of figures I seemto have failed to link to, concerning accidents, not fatalities. The UK has always had a good record concerning deaths on the roads, but this doesn't mean our roads are safe, just less fatal.

I'm trying to dig it up again now, as it also confirmed our grisly accident rate, graveyard cyclist stats and some other grim reading.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by SatansHobbit

Bang, Bang, Maxwell's silver Hummer came down upon their heads...

Originally Posted by Floater

And little did they know how many followers they'd get.

Franciscan Friars was my favorite.

[Floater]

Here's a web cam pointing at the crossing (in the other direction).

[Eddylizard]

Four persons posing on the Zebra crossing would indeed be very safe.

I think anyone standing or crouching in the road not on the crossing to take the photograph would be in peril. Which is why I've passed up some good photos (of different things. The middle of the road was the best angle, but no thanks.) As a driver, approaching a zebra crossing, I temporarily divert a majority of the focus of my concentration to the crossing, and the possibility that there is someone using it or intending to. In that, I might not notice someone standing or crouching in the middle of the road a few tens of feet before the crossing.

Whether anyone has been killed in the process of imitating the album cover, let alone a hundred I have no idea.

[SatansHobbit]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

In that, I might not notice someone standing or crouching in the middle of the road a few tens of feet before the crossing.

"Why don't we do it in the road, it won't be long?"
"Because you won't see me."

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by SatansHobbit

"Why don't we do it in the road, it won't be long?"
"Because you won't see me."

#No-one will be watching us...#

SCREECH! SPLAT!

ETA Too late to edit my first post, but I will add that when I take a photo, all my senses are concentrated on getting the moment right, and I certainly wouldn't notice a car coming up behind me.

[TrishDaDish]

Originally Posted by Lainie

Franciscan Friars was my favorite.

I have to go with Various Artists "Here Comes the Sun: A Reggae Tribute to the Beatles". Mostly cause they painted the stripes on the road. Which is awesome.

I'm surprised no one got their geek on with the Various Artists "The Exotic Beatles - Part 3". I mean, isn't that a Dalek pretending he's John Lennon?

[Embra]

Originally Posted by Floater

Here's a web cam pointing at the crossing (in the other direction).

Heh. Floater, that's a nice link isn't it, because you can use it to see people doing their recreations (Mr E and I visited it recently when he was making a birthday card for a friend born in August 1969).

At the time of posting there are some folk in white robes doing the crossing. (ETA: repeatedly!)

Also ETA that if there is a heightened risk of pedestrian injury at the crossing it islikely to be among those standing in the middle of the road with their back to oncoming traffic so that they can photograph their friends doing the recreation...

[Radon Girl]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

ETA Too late to edit my first post, but I will add that when I take a photo, all my senses are concentrated on getting the moment right, and I certainly wouldn't notice a car coming up behind me.

At Abbey road there is an island with a statue on it in the road just near the crossing, it provides a perfect place out of the way of traffic to take photos from.

Or if you're concerned with your safety..... Photoshop!!

My daughter dancing on Abbey road.

[Andrew of Ware]

Photoshopped! Phew! I thought you had identical quadruplets for a moment. Well done to the driver of that car who is waiting patiently as your daughter waltzes across the crossing.

Incidentally, one of the reports I linked to earlier says that why people's photographs never look quite the same as the Beatles' original is that the photographer took the photo standing on a step ladder

[Radon Girl]

Originally Posted by Andrew of Ware

Photoshopped! Phew! I thought you had identical quadruplets for a moment.

My sanity would not be what it is if there were 4 of her.