Communities face a dilemma — How to keep their citizens safe while also giving those same citizens a say in how their community develops.

We all know that pedestrians are vulnerable to injury when they’re in the same vicinity as speeding cars. At the same time, we all need to get to work, and we all bristle at the idea of a large, costly construction project slowing us down, creating an eyesore and changing the culture of towns.

But there is an easier way. Installing temporary infrastructure like speed tables and pedestrian crossings lets the community have a say — and keep people safe at the same time. The beauty of a trial project is its flexibility; if problems arise, you can easily make adjustments or remove the platforms, minimising any resistance associated with permanent changes.

This article will outline how trials can effectively build community support. It will confront common objections, provide strategies for successful implementation, and demonstrate how temporary installations can pave the way for longer-term solutions.

Let’s get started!

Common objections: Inconvenience and vehicle damage

Let’s examine two common concerns people have regarding raised safety platforms and speed tables.

Raised platforms are designed to slow down drivers, which helps reduce the severity of crashes and prevents injuries or fatalities, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. However, the primary reason people don’t seem to like them is the perception of inconvenience. Many people fear that these changes will lead to longer commute times and increased frustration.

Even when the primary goal of raised platforms is emphasised—managing speed to enhance safety for all road users—some individuals still prioritise their own convenience. While this may seem selfish, it is a common reaction.

Vehicle damage is another perceived problem. The fear of cars scraping their undercarriages or damaging their suspension is a powerful concern. Even when you tell people that well-designed platforms with gentler gradients can significantly reduce this risk, many still won’t believe you.

How does a trial gain community support?

In order to gain the approval of residents, consider a different approach. Instead of a major construction project, communities can go for a trial project that uses temporary infrastructure.

In this scenario, your community consultation includes conversations about moving the crossing, adapting the design, seeking their feedback when they use it. You can also reassure people that it can be taken out if it doesn’t work.

Unlike an asphalt crossing that can’t be easily or cheaply moved, there is nothing permanent about temporary infrastructure.

This is a huge game changer for the community.

Once residents start using the crossing each day it doesn’t take long for people to see the overall impact on traffic flow is minimal. They are gentle enough and relatively quiet as the rubber absorbs any noise. Kids are smiling as they safely cross the road to school, and there is a very low risk of crashing and their vehicles are damage-free.

Okay, so maybe kids aren’t smiling on their way to school, but your traffic data will show reduced speeds, increased feelings of safety, and a more pedestrian-friendly environment, contributing to community well-being rather than unsubstantiated fears.

What to do before starting a trial

Maybe you want to test and measure outcomes before building permanent infrastructure, or if you’re uncertain about long-term plans or funding, you want to improve safety before someone gets hurt. Starting a trial is an effective way to implement fast and cost-effective safety upgrades. It will also allow for flexibility, enabling you to make changes or even remove the temporary installations altogether if it is not the right fit for the problem.

The importance of good design

Choosing a temporary raised safety platform with gentle gradients is important. Vanguard’s modular raised speed tables and pedestrian crossings have gentle gradients that manage speed effectively to below 30kmh. This makes it safe for pedestrians and also improves the driver experience. Any concerns about vehicle damage or congestion will be minimised.

Choosing the right temporary platform

It’s no secret that asphalt and concrete are not suitable for a trial project. They are not easily removed once installed, and you will have your community shaking their head if you try to tell them it’s only temporary!

Rubber modular raised platforms, however, are a great choice. They offer a fast installation, are easy to change, easy to remove, and need very little maintenance during a trial project. If something breaks, you can replace that bit. If something doesn’t work, you can remove it. You can even add to it.

Experts can talk you through the best options to address the risks on your road network, and help you through the decision-making process when the time comes to choose what to build.

Installing the Temporary Raised Platform

Finally … this is where the community gets to see first hand how quickly a raised platform is to install, how minimal the traffic disruption is, and how easy it is to navigate. Let’s take a look at how you actually install a temporary raised safety platform for your trial project?

This part is very straightforward. As long as you have a decent road surface, no ground preparation is needed. Modular design makes this like a big Lego set – simply place and connect modules together to create the platform, then drill holes, fill with epoxy and screw the modules down to the road. It is done and dusted in around 5 hours and can be reopened to traffic immediately.

We can help advise you on different ways to connect the raised platform to your existing footpath to ensure safe accessibility and keep your community happy.

Image: Napier City Council improved accessibility to the crossing

Immediate benefits: safe crossing and traffic flow maintained

As you might expect, temporary traffic management costs and time are reduced, disruption to road users and businesses is reduced, and the road can be opened to traffic with a fully functional raised safety platform within hours! The safety benefits are immediate, and your feedback and data collection can start straight away.

Network-wide impact of trials

But the buck doesn’t stop there. A trial approach allows you to create a strong, persuasive argument for larger-scale adoption, either across other parts of your network or for more permanent structures in the same location.

When you have the evidence and feedback to say, ‘this worked because of x, y, and z’ it is possible to apply those learnings and safety solutions elsewhere. It means that you can analyse your network performance and put in several speed calming measures, and safety crossing points, at the same time to achieve wider safety benefits.

That’s a win-win for more road users.

Case study: Carlyle Street raised pedestrian crossings

Let’s see what this looks like in practice. Take a look at Napier City Council’s Carlyle Street trial. They installed two rubber-raised “zebra crossings” along a 1km stretch of a busy street, along with a roundabout and traffic calming. The community said they now feel safer, speeds are slower, and people feel listened to since their feedback was able to inform design changes to improve accessibility.

Effective consultation and reporting was key. More detail can be found in council’s consultation reports, which are a testament to the success of a community-centred approach when trialling temporary treatments.

Image: Installing two raised zebra crossings in 6 hours on Carlyle Street, Napier.

The pathway from temporary to permanent treatments

If you are trialling a raised safety platform with the view to installing something more permanent (this is where your asphalt and concrete come into play) you will need ongoing collaboration with your community.

The trial is the first step. As people use it, it becomes business as usual, concerns are addressed and benefits are realised. People get used to the safety benefits of raised platforms and may even leave the car at home and walk to the shops or school.

When you have the budget or command to unbolt your rubber platforms to replace them with something longer-term, your partnership is already established. Residents have buy-in because you have already created the project together through the trial.

(If you have an appetite for more detail and context check out this article on community involvement in road safety offering a broader exploration of challenges and opportunities)

Next steps: making your project a reality

So what have we learnt?

Invest in a safer, more engaged community.

Implementing raised safety platforms doesn’t have to be daunting.  Trial projects offer a low-risk, data-driven approach to address concerns and build consensus.  With modular, easily installed rubber platforms, you can quickly see results and demonstrate the benefits to your community.

Vanguard’s rubber raised platforms were designed in consultation with several New Zealand councils over three years. You can trust that they are fit for purpose, easy to install and achieve safer speeds in your community.

If you are ready to transform your community’s safety contact us today to learn how a trial implementation of raised safety platforms can make a real difference.