In order to assist the Brits, Benidorm City Council have embarked on a ‘safe crossing’ campaign in the predominantly British areas around the Rincon area. Each year numerous traffic accidents involving pedestrians are reported – as the Brits tend to forget that the Spanish drive ‘on the other side’. So the Council have started by painting the direction pedestrians should look at before starting to cross.

The first signage went down yesterday on Calle Gerona at the top of the square opposite the Zodiac Bar - “Look Left” on the zebra crossings to remind people to look left! Obviously if you are crossing from the opposite side a “Look Right” would need to be painted…. I wonder if they realize that! Hopefully these will be helpful during the daytime but at night I fear that the alcohol would have played its part and no amount of “Look” signs will help, as lets face it, some can barely walk! Combined with the way that the Spanish drive it’s hardly surprising that it is a recipe for disaster…..don’t even mention roundabouts!

More will be painted over the coming days in areas of high British visitors such as Calle Lepanto and Avd Filipinas where there are many hotels, bars, clubs and restaurants aimed at attracting the British holidaymakers. Now all the authorities have to do is to teach Spanish drivers to stop at zebra crossings when there are pedestrians on them - and also, not to park on them!

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