Most older pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: to compare walking speed in the UK older population with the speed required to utilise pedestrian crossings (≥1.2 m/s), and determine health and socio-demographic associations with walking impairment. DESIGN: cross-sectional study using Health Survey for England 2005 data. SETTING: private households in England. PARTICIPANTS: random population sample of 3,145 adults (1,444 men) aged ≥65 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: walking speed was assessed by timing a walk of 8 feet at normal pace. Walking impairment was defined as walking speed