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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 <1.2 m/s or non-participation in the test due to being unsafe or unable.

Results: the mean walking speed was 0.9 m/s in men and 0.8 m/s in women; 84% of men and 93% of women ≥65 years had walking impairment. Female gender, increasing age, lower socio-economic status, poorer …