Pedestrian Crossings

There are many types of Pedestrian Crossings

There are Six types of pedestrian crossings divided into two main categories.  The rules when encountering these pedestrian crossings however are the same for all pedestrian crossings.

As long as you understand who has priority at the different pedestrian crossings you should not have too much trouble with this pedestrian crossing section.

Pedestrian Crossings

There are six types of pedestrian crossings.

Pedestrian Crossings - The Zebra Crossing

The Zebra crossing is the easiest one to identify because it has black and white stripes of equal width on the road surface. It also has the flashing amber 'Belisha Beacons' on either side of the road.

Zebra crossings are marked by black and white painted strips across the road and flashing amber globes called 'belisha beacons'.

The highway code says that when a pedestrian moves onto the zebra crossing, approaching drivers MUST stop and should only start again once all of the pedestrians have left the crossing. However, pedestrians should remain on the kerbside for safety's sake until approaching vehicles have stopped.

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Pedestrian Crossings
SPECIAL NOTE

Pedestrian Crossings - Pedestrian Crossings

SPECIAL NOTE: - The Zebra crossing is the original form of pedestrian crossing. All of the other permanent types of pedestrian crossing have sited traffic lights.

If the traffic lights on both sides of the road fail on any of the permanently sited forms of pedestrian crossing then they revert to being a Zebra crossing.

Pedestrian Crossings - To confirm. If you are approaching a pedestrian crossing that is controled by traffic lights and those lights are not working, if there is a pedestrian waiting at the side of the pedestrian crossing then you must stop and wait for that pedestrian in exactly the same manner as you would at a Zebra crossing.

Pedestrian Crossings - Pedestrian Crossings

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Pedestrian Crossings
Different types of Pedestrian Crossing

Pedestrian Crossings - The Pelican Crossing

The Pelican pedestrian crossing is the most easily recognisable pedestrian crossing of all. It was the first pedestrian crossing to be controlled by traffic lights.

When a pedestrian walks up to a pelican crossing and presses the button they have to wait for the green man to show before crossing the road. There is a continuous bleeping sound at a pelican type pedestrian crossing controlled by traffic lights for the benefit of the blind or partially sighted.

The Pelican crossing is the only pedestrian crossing to contain a flashing amber light in its phase. The amber light that the drivers see at the pelican crossings flashes in time to the flashing of the green man that the pedestrian sees while crossings.

The pedestrians may still start crossing at a pelican type pedestrian crossing at any time while the green man is flashing. Motorists should be aware that if the pelican type of pedestrian crossing is completely clear but there is a pedestrian about to use the crossing then the pedestrian has full priority.

Once upon the pedestrian crossing the pedestrian has priority until they have completely cleared the pedestrian crossing.

Pelican crossings have an audible warning that continues for as long as the pedestrian has priority to enter the pedestrian crossing.

Pedestrian Crossings - The Puffin Crossing

The Puffin pedestrian crossing looks the same as the Pelican pedestrian crossing from the drivers perspective. The only difference to their appearance is the two radar guns usually on top of the lights which must point down towards the pedestrians crossing. These are found on the puffin style of pedestrian crossing.

The puffin pedestrian crossing has two features which are designed to be particularly pedestrian friendly whilst crossing.

1) The red and green lights which tell the pedestrians when they are clear to cross are on the pedestrian side of the crossing, just above the button that they pressed, rather than higher up the pole. This is much easier for pedestrians at puffin crossings who have sight related problems or who may be in wheelchairs.

2) The red light at Puffin pedestrian crossings is intended not to change to green while there is a pedestrian still upon the puffin crossing. This is facilitated by the use of sensors. Usually located on the top of the poles that hold the lights at the side of the puffin pedestrian crossing.

We have all seen an elderly pedestrian crossing the road with shopping bags get half way across a pelican style pedestrian crossing before the lights change to green. This puffin pedestrian crossing system system was invented for just such occasions. The radar passes the information to the light control box as to whether or not there is any movement on the puffin pedestrian crossing and the light control box reacts accordingly. If there is still movement on the puffin pedestrian crossing then the lights will stay at red until the slow pedestrian has finished crossing the road.

Puffin crossings also have an audible warning for pedestrians who wish to use the crossing.

Pedestrian Crossings - The Toucan Crossing

When using other types of pedestrian crossings, as you know, cyclists are supposed to dismount from their cycles when they use a pedestrian crossing. If there is a cycle path that approaches the pedestrian crossing from one side and continues on the other side then it would be more convenient for the cyclists to remain mounted at the pedestrian crossing.

Commonly called the 'two can cross' pedestrian crossing the toucan style of crossing allows cyclists to use the crossing at the same time as pedestrians without the need for them to dismount from their cycles.

There are two lights from the pedestrian/cyclist point of view at the toucan crossing. A green man to time the pedestrians crossing and a green cycle to time the cyclists crossing. They will both turn green at the same time but the cycle will remain on green for longer because a cyclist can use the crossing faster than a pedestrian.

Toucan crossings may also have an audible warning to help both pedestrians and cyclists.

Pedestrian Crossings - The Pegasus Crossing

Pegasus style pedestrian crossings will only be found in areas where plenty of horseriders are expected to be crossing the road.

The pegasus style of pedestrian crossing has an extra set of buttons two metres off the ground so that the riders have no need to dismount in order to activate the pegasus style pedestrian crossing. In deference to the horses the vehicles will be made to stop farther away from a pegasus style pedestrian crossing than they would from a normal pedestrian crossing.

The lights that are displayed at a pegasus crossing are different to normal pedestrian crossings as well. The green and red people have been replaced with green and red horses.

If the crossing is to be used by pedestrians and cyclists too, then a parallel toucan crossing is placed next to the pegasus crossing.

The Pegasus style of pedestrian crossing crossing is quite rare. Only really found at places such as Newmarket where you can expect horses from several stables to need to cross at the same point. Though rare you should be aware of the Pegasus crossing.

Pedestrian Crossings
Pedestrians Crossing controlled by a Lollipop Person

These pedestrian crossings are easily recognisable by their reflective jackets and stop sign on a pole. The lollipop pedestrian crossings are mainly to be found outside schools at the times of peak pedestrian use.

If the school crossing patrol person stands by the kerb and extends the lollipop then you have no choice. The word says 'stop' and that is exactly what you must do no matter which direction you are approaching from. You must stop the car, apply the handbrake and select neutral until the last remaining pedestrian has safely crossed the road. Only then may you select first and prepare to move away from the pedestrian crossing.

Lollipop controlled pedestrian crossings are a valuable resource within the community. The local authorities who recruit the lollipop pedestrian crossing people are finding recruitment increasingly difficult. There is an unusually high turnover of staff amongst the lollipop patrol personnel. This is entirely due to the appaling behaviour of motorists when approaching this type of pedestrian crossing. The people who operate the lollipop style pedestrian crossings are coming under increasing pressure from stupid motorists who drive dangerously at them, trying to make them move.

THIS BEHAVIOUR IS BENEATH CONTEMPT!

The people who work on the Lollipop Crossings perform a very valuable job to the communities that they serve. The crossing personnel are employed by the local authority. They receive training as to how to stop the traffic and how often. It is not the random process that it may seem to the uninitiated.

Pedestrian Crossings - The Pedestrian Refuge

The humble pedestrian refuge consists of a pair of bollards in the middle of the road secured by a concrete base. Though many shapes are in evidence in towns and cities across the country this is probably the most common.

The purpose of the pedestrian refuge is not that it should be seen as a pedestrian crossing.

The pedestrian refuge is a 'safe haven' in the middle of the road. The intention is that on a busy road the pedestrian can cross half of the road then wait safely until they can continue crossing to the other side.

There is no requirement for motorists to stop and wait for pedestrians at pedestrian refuges.

If you are driving in slow traffic then it is only polite and courteous to allow a pedestrian to continue crossing to the other side. There is no benefit to you if you become stationary in the road and block the progress of the pedestrian who wishes to continue crossing.

Pedestrian Crossings

Priority at Pedestrian Crossings

Priority is the major issue at all pedestrian Crossings

On approach to the pedestrian crossing you have to realise who has priority on the crossing. You, or the pedestrian.

If the pedestrian crossing is a Zebra type crossing then the priority is automatically with the pedestrian whether or not they are on the road. Once the pedestrian has moved to the side of the pedestrian crossing you must stop and let them cross.

If the pedestrian crossing is controlled by traffic lights then the priority is decided by the lights. Even if the light is green and the priority lies with you, you should still give way if there is still a pedestrian on the crossing. If there is a pedestrian who looks ready to use the pedestrian crossing and the light is still on green then you should slow down slightly on approach to the crossing in case the priority changes.

If the pedestrian crossing is a Lollipop style crossing patrol then the priority is at the discretion of the patrol person.

Pedestrian Crossings - On Approach

Once the pedestrian crossing has been recognised perform a full set of mirror checks and slow down if there are pedestrians waiting at the crossing or obviously approaching the crossing. Only if the priority definitely lies with you and there is no possibility of a pedestrian getting to the crossing before you do would you approach a pedestrian crossing with intent to drive straight across it. Even then you should slow down slightly on approach to the pedestrian crossing just in case of the unexpected..

Pedestrian Crossings
If you need to stop at the Pedestrian Crossing

If you need to stop at a pedestrian crossing please make sure that you are completely behind the stop line. If there are any pedestrians on or approaching the crossing then you should keep both hands on the steering wheel until you are stationary then apply the handbrake and select neutral; otherwise a rolling first gear change may be performed before applying the handbrake in preparation for moving away from the crossing. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to set the gas or find a biting point on a red light or if there is still a pedestrian on any part of the crossing.

Pedestrian Crossings
The effect of a pedestrian refuge at a Pedestrian Crossing

You may see a pedestrian refuge in the middle of a zebra style pedestrian crossing. A pedestrian refuge in the centre of the road splits the pedestrian crossing into two separate pedestrian crossings. Unless stopping is dictated by traffic lights you only have to stop for pedestrians on your side of the refuge. This mainly affects zebra style pedestrian crossings.

In your general drive you will see pedestrian refuges where there is not a pedestrian crossing. You do not have to stop for these! They are solely for the purpose of keeping the pedestrians safe whilst they wait for a safe gap in the traffic to complete their crossing.

Pedestrian Crossings
Moving away from a Pedestrian Crossing

Do not set the gas and find the biting point before you are ready to move away from the pedestrian crossing; the engine noise may intimidate the pedestrians.

If the amber light is flashing and there are no pedestrians on the crossing then you may move away. If the lights turn to green you may not select first gear if there are any pedestrians remaining on the crossing; even if they are over on the other side of the road. Wait until they have left the pedestrian crossing.

Pedestrian Crossings
If you do not need to stop at a Pedestrian Crossing

It still pays to make sure that you slow down a little on approach to the pedestrian crossing even if you do not have to stop. It leaves you better placed to stop if circumstances change quicker than you expect while approaching the pedestrian crossing, and it demonstrates care and consideration for others.

Imagine this scene, as it looks to either your driving instructor or the examiner. You are driving along a straight road that has four pedestrian crossings. There is not another soul in sight either on foot or in a vehicle. You maintain a steady thirty miles an hour for the full length of the road.

At the far end of that road I would be wondering if you had even seen the pedestrian crossings, never mind shown any defference to the fact that you may have been required to stop at one of the pedestrian crossings unexpectedly.

Re-run the event. One difference though. On approach to each of the deserted pedestrian crossings you perform a full set of mirror checks; and remove your foot from the gas pedal until the front of your car crosses the stop line. Then you add some gas to return to a suitable speed for the road.

Now I am delighted. You have shown me that you have not only seen the pedestrian crossings but you have planned ahead enough to take action just in case of an unexpected event.

Pedestrian Crossings

Always be careful at Pedestrian Crossings