The green man sign on pedestrian crossings and traffic lights may not be giving the elderly enough time to cross the road without harm, new guidelines have said.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has announced it wants to make it easier for people with mobility struggles to get out and about.
On average, pedestrians usually have around four to seven seconds to cross the road before the green man cuts out – but some roads in and around Burton, Uttoxeter and South Derbyshire are slower than this.
The typical walking speed for older men is around 3ft, or 0.9m per second, according to the BBC. Older women usually walk at around 2.6ft per second.
The Department of Transport recommends crossing times to be 4ft, or 1.2m per second, however local councils can change the times to adjust to residents' needs if they wish.
The draft NICE guidelines also recommend that councils move bins, hanging baskets and any other obstacles that might get in the way of disabled pedestrians and others who may struggle to get around, such as parents with prams.
Staffordshire County Council's cabinet support member for highways and transport, Helen Fisher, said: "Safety of pedestrians and motorists is a priority to us and our highways team continually monitors pedestrian crossings and will review crossing times.
Each crossing will be timed differently depending on its location and width of the road. We do follow Department of Transport recommendations and will respond accordingly to any changes in national guidance."
