Types of pedestrian crossings:
- Pelican crossings
- Puffin crossings
- Toucan crossings
- Zebra crossings
General information for Pelican and Puffin crossings
These crossings are controlled by traffic lights. Zig-zag markings in the road, either side of the crossing, are to prevent vehicles from waiting or parking on the crossing and to prohibit vehicles from overtaking. Usually there are iron railings in place to prevent pedestrians from crossing the road away from the crossing.
Pelican crossings
The name Pelican derives from 'Pedestrian Light Controlled', adapted to match the name of the bird.
Pedestrians wishing to cross the road must push a button which activates the traffic lights. There is a red man / green man indicator on the far side of the crossing. Once the green man is illuminated it is safe to cross the road. When the green man starts flashing, you should not start to cross. If you have already started to cross there will be sufficient time to finish crossing safely.
At most Pelican crossings there is also a bleeping sound to assist the visually impaired, and some crossings have a tactile signal to assist deafblind people.
Puffin crossings
The name Puffin derives from 'Pedestrian User-Friendly Intelligent', adapted to match the name of the bird.
The Puffin crossing has infra-red detectors which extend the time available for pedestrians to cross the road. The detectors can also cancel a request to cross if the pedestrian moves away from the crossing area. The traffic lights have no flashing amber phase, so they change just like normal traffic lights at a junction.
Pedestrians wishing to cross the road must push a button which activates the traffic lights. There is a red man / green man indicator above the pushbutton. Once the green man is illuminated it is safe to cross the road. When the green man starts flashing, you should not start to cross. If you have already started to cross there will be sufficient time to finish crossing safely.
At most Puffin crossings there is also a bleeping sound to assist the visually impaired, and some crossings have a tactile signal to assist deafblind people.
Toucan crossings
These crossings are controlled by traffic lights. Zig-zag markings in the road, either side of the crossing, are to prevent vehicles from waiting or parking on the crossing and to prohibit vehicles from overtaking. Usually there are iron railings in place to prevent pedestrians or cyclists from crossing the road away from the crossing.
The name Toucan derives from the fact that 'two can' cross at the same time, adapted to match the name of the bird.
The Toucan crossing has infra-red detectors which extend the time available for pedestrians/cyclists to cross the road. The detectors can also cancel a request to cross if the pedestrian/cyclist moves away from the crossing area.
Toucan crossings are usually 4 metres wide instead of the standard 2.8 metres. This is to enable cyclists to ride across the road without impeding pedestrians.
Toucan crossings permit pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road at the same time. Pedestrians/cyclists wishing to cross the road must push a button which activates the lights. There are red man / green man and green cycle indicators either above the pushbutton or on the far side of the crossing. Once the green man and green cycle are illuminated it is safe to cross the road. When the green man and green cycle start flashing, you should not start to cross. If you have already started to cross there will be sufficient time to finish crossing safely.
At most Toucan crossings there is also a bleeping sound to assist the visually impaired, and some crossings have a tactile signal to assist deafblind people.
Zebra crossings
A Zebra crossing is a path across a road consisting of alternate black and white stripes, enabling pedestrians to cross safely. Zig-zag markings in the road, either side of the crossing, are to prevent vehicles from waiting or parking on the crossing and to prohibit vehicles from overtaking.
Zebra crossings do not have traffic lights; however they do usually have Belisha beacons - flashing amber globes mounted on black and white striped poles.
Zebra crossings are not suitable for roads where the speed limit is in excess of 30 mph.
Pedestrian crossings started adopting animal names in 1951 with the introduction of Zebra crossings.
Before starting to cross the road at a Zebra crossing, pedestrians should give traffic enough time to see them and to come to a complete stop. Wait until traffic has stopped from either directions, or the road is clear, before starting to cross.
Reporting a faulty crossing
Contact us, using the numbers in the contact details link, or after hours on 01708 433999
Please indicate the precise location of the crossing by telling us the following:
- The name of the road or street where the crossing is located.
- Any junction with other roads.
- The nearest house number or the closest landmark.
- Additional information required to enable us to allocate priority
Belisha beacon poles
- Has it been damaged, e.g. exposed wires?
- Has it been knocked over?
- Is it permanently on?
- Is the light bulb dead?
Service standard
Minor faults and bulb replacement will be taken care of within 7 days.
The local electricity company - EDF - is responsible for the electrical supply to these lights. Power supply problems that have to be dealt with by EDF can take up to 4 months.
Road safety - pedestrian crossings
Types of pedestrian crossings:
- Pelican crossings
- Puffin crossings
- Toucan crossings
- Zebra crossings
General information for Pelican and Puffin crossings
These crossings are controlled by traffic lights. Zig-zag markings in the road, either side of the crossing, are to prevent vehicles from waiting or parking on the crossing and to prohibit vehicles from overtaking. Usually there are iron railings in place to prevent pedestrians from crossing the road away from the crossing.
Pelican crossings
The name Pelican derives from 'Pedestrian Light Controlled', adapted to match the name of the bird.
Pedestrians wishing to cross the road must push a button which activates the traffic lights. There is a red man / green man indicator on the far side of the crossing. Once the green man is illuminated it is safe to cross the road. When the green man starts flashing, you should not start to cross. If you have already started to cross there will be sufficient time to finish crossing safely.
At most Pelican crossings there is also a bleeping sound to assist the visually impaired, and some crossings have a tactile signal to assist deafblind people.
Puffin crossings
The name Puffin derives from 'Pedestrian User-Friendly Intelligent', adapted to match the name of the bird.
The Puffin crossing has infra-red detectors which extend the time available for pedestrians to cross the road. The detectors can also cancel a request to cross if the pedestrian moves away from the crossing area. The traffic lights have no flashing amber phase, so they change just like normal traffic lights at a junction.
Pedestrians wishing to cross the road must push a button which activates the traffic lights. There is a red man / green man indicator above the pushbutton. Once the green man is illuminated it is safe to cross the road. When the green man starts flashing, you should not start to cross. If you have already started to cross there will be sufficient time to finish crossing safely.
At most Puffin crossings there is also a bleeping sound to assist the visually impaired, and some crossings have a tactile signal to assist deafblind people.
Toucan crossings
These crossings are controlled by traffic lights. Zig-zag markings in the road, either side of the crossing, are to prevent vehicles from waiting or parking on the crossing and to prohibit vehicles from overtaking. Usually there are iron railings in place to prevent pedestrians or cyclists from crossing the road away from the crossing.
The name Toucan derives from the fact that 'two can' cross at the same time, adapted to match the name of the bird.
The Toucan crossing has infra-red detectors which extend the time available for pedestrians/cyclists to cross the road. The detectors can also cancel a request to cross if the pedestrian/cyclist moves away from the crossing area.
Toucan crossings are usually 4 metres wide instead of the standard 2.8 metres. This is to enable cyclists to ride across the road without impeding pedestrians.
Toucan crossings permit pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road at the same time. Pedestrians/cyclists wishing to cross the road must push a button which activates the lights. There are red man / green man and green cycle indicators either above the pushbutton or on the far side of the crossing. Once the green man and green cycle are illuminated it is safe to cross the road. When the green man and green cycle start flashing, you should not start to cross. If you have already started to cross there will be sufficient time to finish crossing safely.
At most Toucan crossings there is also a bleeping sound to assist the visually impaired, and some crossings have a tactile signal to assist deafblind people.
Zebra crossings
A Zebra crossing is a path across a road consisting of alternate black and white stripes, enabling pedestrians to cross safely. Zig-zag markings in the road, either side of the crossing, are to prevent vehicles from waiting or parking on the crossing and to prohibit vehicles from overtaking.
Zebra crossings do not have traffic lights; however they do usually have Belisha beacons - flashing amber globes mounted on black and white striped poles.
Zebra crossings are not suitable for roads where the speed limit is in excess of 30 mph.
Pedestrian crossings started adopting animal names in 1951 with the introduction of Zebra crossings.
Before starting to cross the road at a Zebra crossing, pedestrians should give traffic enough time to see them and to come to a complete stop. Wait until traffic has stopped from either directions, or the road is clear, before starting to cross.
Reporting a faulty crossing
Contact us, using the numbers in the contact details link, or after hours on 01708 433999
Please indicate the precise location of the crossing by telling us the following:
- The name of the road or street where the crossing is located.
- Any junction with other roads.
- The nearest house number or the closest landmark.
- Additional information required to enable us to allocate priority
Belisha beacon poles
- Has it been damaged, e.g. exposed wires?
- Has it been knocked over?
- Is it permanently on?
- Is the light bulb dead?
Service standard
Minor faults and bulb replacement will be taken care of within 7 days.
The local electricity company - EDF - is responsible for the electrical supply to these lights. Power supply problems that have to be dealt with by EDF can take up to 4 months.
Pedestrian crossings
Please note that new pedestrian crossings need careful consideration and public consultation. Therefore it can take several months before a final decision is agreed wether or not to install the crossing. This type of work is also dependent factors such as value for money, available resources and necessity.
Green Light for Engineering (for schools with approved travel plans!)
During 2006/07, we implemented a large 20mph Zone around the Clockhouse Schools, together with several new pedestrian refuges in the area. In addition, we implemented another 20mph around the Redden Court and Harold Wood schools, together with a state of the art Puffin Crossing. I am especially pleased to report on the crossing near Redden Court as I went to school there!
Our plans for 2007/08 continue apace. We have recently had approval from Cllr Tucker, the Chairman of the South Hornchurch and Rainham Area committee, to extend the 20mph Zone serving Brady School, to include Chafford School, together with a new zebra crossing.
At the time of writing, we are also consulting on new zebra crossings to serve Kingswood School in Harold Hill and the Parklands Schools in the Rise Park area.
My team has also started work on reviewing the highway improvement requests from Sander's Draper, Suttons, St. Ursula's & RJ Mitchell, but the schemes are awaiting a funding announcement in December.
What is a Puffin Crossing?
Most people will have heard of zebra crossings (black and white stripes like a zebra!), Pelican crossings (Pedestrian Light Controlled) and some may even know what a Toucan Crossing in (Two Can Cross - for cyclists and pedestrians), but what is a Puffin?
Puffin crossings are another silly name for the 21st Century version of the Pelican. Puffin means "Pedestrian User Friendly Intelligent Crossing" and still has the familiar push button, but that is where the similarity ends.
Puffin Crossings have clever sensors that can see how fast traffic is approaching the crossing when you push the button to only let you cross when it is safe. For those who take longer to cross the road, the sensors keep the green man on for longer and for those who think its funny to press the button and run off - the crossing will ignore you!
The green man is not on the other side of the road any more, he lives on the yellow push button box, sometimes with a friend on another box higher up the pole. You still have the red man to stop you crossing and you cross when the green man appears, but only cross with the green man.
The cars don't have a flashing amber light and you don't have a flashing green man, so it is clear to everyone who should be on the crossing.
For more information on pedestrian crossings, have a look on Transport for London's website;
Mark Philpotts
Principal Engineer Traffic & Engineering