Pedestrian guardrails have been used increasingly on Britain's streets since the 1930s, but their value is now being questioned by planners in the light of the new trend of reducing street furniture. This paper disputes claims that guardrail removal enhances safety by presenting evidence of the large reductions in casualties after erection of guardrails, particularly those that do not block visibility. Chronic lack of research is highlighted, with particular reference to visibility and its inadequate treatment in design standards. Deterrence of diagonal crossing is identified as a prime reason why guardrails are so successful in preventing pedestrian accidents, which clarifies how they can be used most effectively. Recent work to improve the design of guardrails is also outlined.
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