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ExecutiveChronicles | 4 Types of Pedestrian Crossings | Pedestrian crossings are designed to help pedestrians safely cross roads. They can be unsignalized or signaled and give priority to either pedestrians or vehicular traffic, depending on the type of crossing.
Resembling zebra stripes, a zebra crossing is a zigzagged line without traffic lights. Drivers must give way to pedestrians at this crossing or risk a fine and penalty points.
Zebra Crossing
A zebra crossing, also known as a zebra-striped pedestrian crossing, is a type of crosswalk sign that uses black and white stripes to indicate to pedestrians that they are allowed to cross the road. These stripes are reminiscent of a zebra’s coat and are designed to give pedestrians precedence over vehicular traffic.
These crossings are often used to connect sidewalks across busy roads. While they can be helpful for those walking to work or school, they are not suitable for all types of roadways. Pedestrians should always look both ways before crossing a street and should never walk between parked cars or on a blind bend, as this can cause accidents. Likewise, motorists should always slow down when approaching a zebra crossing as they may not see pedestrians in time to stop.
In addition to the black and white stripes, these crossings also have zigzag lines on both sides to warn drivers that there are people waiting to cross. In addition, they have a yellow beacon that flashes to signal that the road is closed, and pedestrians are allowed to cross.
Normally, a zebra crossing is located away from the conflict point of the intersection to allow pedestrians ample time to cross. The distance should be a minimum of 20 meters for signaled-controlled junctions and 5 meters for uncontrolled crossings. However, some authorities may prefer a greater distance.
Another variation of a traditional zebra crossing is the diagonal crossing, which allows pedestrians to cross in every direction at the same time. During this phase, all vehicular traffic is stopped. In order to avoid conflict with turning vehicles, the crossing should be positioned on a straight section of the road that is free from intersections and obstacles.
Finally, some zebra crossings are equipped with a retractable barrier that can be raised when there is a danger of collisions with passing vehicles or bicycles. This is particularly useful when the road is narrow or where there are high speeds. These crossings are often used near schools, parks, or public areas. It is also important to note that it is illegal for any person to park on or overtake a zebra crossing.
Pelican Crossing
The pelican crossing is another type of pedestrian crossing and is usually found on main roads in urban areas. When a pedestrian pushes the button on this type of crossing, the traffic lights will change to a green light for them; however, before they turn back to green again, they will flash amber. This is so that drivers can give way to any pedestrians still at the crossing and ensure they have safely made it across. It is important for both pedestrians and motorists to follow the regulations set out for this type of crossing; otherwise, there could be serious accidents if either party fails to do so.
Traffic lights control this type of pedestrian crossing, similar to a zebra crossing, but with a WAIT sign on the black and yellow box for pedestrians. Pedestrians will press the button to illuminate the WAIT sign and then wait until the green man appears at the traffic lights and they are allowed to cross. This type of pedestrian crossing also has the added benefit of stopping traffic, but it is often confused by drivers who may fail to check for pedestrians or misread the light sequence.
Unlike the zebra crossing, this type of pedestrian crossing is also designed to stop traffic as well, which can help reduce congestion on busy roads. This can be a great advantage for towns and cities that need to quickly get people in and out of town. These crossings are also known as “pedestrian priority” or “controlled phase” crossings, which means that they will always give pedestrians the highest level of safety before allowing traffic to flow through.
If you’re not used to driving around these types of crossings, then you might find them a little confusing, but it’s a simple rule of thumb: If the red signal for traffic is lit then you should stop (provided that you have enough space to do so). If you’re on your way to work and there are pedestrians waiting at the side of the road, you should continue as normal until the signal changes.
Puffin Crossing
Puffin crossings are a fairly new type of pedestrian road crossing that’s starting to appear more often on our roads. These crossings use smart technology to detect the presence of pedestrians, and a beeping sound usually accompanies the signal when it’s safe for them to cross. As a result, these crossings reduce wait times for drivers, making them more efficient and safer for everyone.
Unlike pelican crossings, puffin crossings are more reactive to traffic and adjust the length of time they remain on the green phase based on how many people are detected waiting to cross. This allows them to change more quickly if the demand is low, and they’re ideal for busy or challenging locations where drivers can sometimes ignore red signals.
Like zebra and pelican crossings, these pedestrian road crossings also allow cyclists to safely cross, but they feature an additional green cycle symbol on the walking green man. They’re typically found in urban areas alongside other types of road crossings and can be used on either side of a pedestrian or cycling path.
A toucan crossing is a more advanced variant of the puffin, designed specifically for cyclists and pedestrians who want to cross together. They have the same functionality as a puffin but are also fitted with curbside pedestrian detectors, which cancel demand for crossings when someone crosses before the green man appears (and subsequently stop the lights from changing).
As with other types of pedestrian crossing, if you’re driving on a toucan crossing, you’ll need to ensure that there’s no approaching traffic by looking over your shoulder at the road. You’ll also need to be aware that pedestrians may nip across the road at funny angles and that sensors may not detect them if they’re positioned at an awkward angle or are wearing dark clothing.
Remember that stopping a vehicle at a pedestrian road crossing is a traffic offense and will cause you to fail your driving test. Your driving examiner will expect you to anticipate the actions of other road users, including pedestrians. If you’re not sure about the difference between these types of road crossings or how to approach them safely, ask your instructor for further guidance.
Traffic Light Crossing
Unlike pelican and puffin crossings, these types of pedestrian crossings are operated by traffic lights. When the lights are green, pedestrians have the right to start crossing the road. After a short period of time, the lights will change to red. A flashing amber sequence may also allow pedestrians to finish crossing if they’re unsure whether it is safe to do so. This type of crossing can be especially useful in areas where the number of pedestrians is too high for zebra or puffin crossings to be feasible.
The main advantage of traffic light-controlled crossings is that they provide an opportunity for people with limited mobility to cross the road safely. The disadvantage is that pedestrians must watch the traffic as they cross and may need to wait for a long time until the WALK signal comes on. This can be particularly challenging for visually impaired people. If a WALK signal starts to flash, it’s important to look left-right-left again and only begin to cross if it’s clear.
Another great feature of traffic light-controlled crossings is the use of rotating cones. These are fitted to puffin, pelican, and toucan crossings and are designed to help visually impaired people cross the street safely. The cones start to rotate as the WALK signal turns on, and they will illuminate in a pattern that is easy for pedestrians to recognize.
Photo by Steve DiMatteo on Unsplash
