Pensioners 'too slow for pelican crossings' Study of 3,000 pensioners showed that many cannot cross in time Campaigner call for timings to be amended to reflect modern abilities Said that being unable to cross may stop people from walking A study has found that many elderly people walk at half the speed required to cross in time Pelican crossing times should be lengthened to protect slow-walking pensioners, say campaigners. Crossing times are regulated at an average walking speed of 1.21 metres per second, but a study has found that many elderly walk at nearly half that speed. The "Smarter Crossings" campaign is calling for the "green man" sign to last an extra three seconds so young and old can all cross in time. Researcher Dr Laura Asher, of University College London, said walking was important for older people as it provided regular exercise. "Being unable to cross a road may deter them from walking, reducing their access to social contacts and interaction, local health services and shops," she said. Dr Asher's study of 3,000 pensioners found the average pelican crossing time for men was 0.9metre per second and just 0.7metre per second for women. It showed 76 per cent of men and 85 per cent of women aged over 65 walk slower than necessary to use a pelican crossing. A study of 3,000 pensioners has found that 76 per cent of men and 85 per cent of women aged over 65 walk slower than is necessary to use a pelican crossing A spokesman for the Living Streets charity behind the campaign said the "green man" time was out of date and did not reflect present day. But Peter Box, chairman of the Local Government Association's economy and transport board said the formula councils used actually gave people far longer to cross the road than this "flawed research" suggested. "Timings have to strike a balance between traffic flow and pedestrian safety, but the emphasis is always on safety," he said.