Understanding the
Different Types of Pedestrian Crossings
There are three common pedestrian crossings in
the UK:
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Zebra
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Puffin
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Toucan
Zebra crossings use black-and-white stripes on
the ground, with flashing beacons to alert drivers that they are approaching a
crossing. Puffin crossings use sensors to detect pedestrians waiting to cross,
featuring lights above the signal box. Toucan crossings allow both pedestrians
and cyclists to cross at the same time.
At Portland Traffic, we supply pedestrian
crossing equipment and upgrade existing crossings with modern LED technology to
improve visibility and safety for pedestrians and drivers.
Portland Traffic Products
At Portland Traffic, we specialise in a comprehensive
range of Zebra crossing products to suit a wide variety of applications. Our LED Belisha Beacons are manufactured from durable materials that
withstand the harshest weather conditions, making them a great choice for Zebra
crossings. They have a distinctive design and are highly visible, playing a key
role in alerting motorists to pedestrian crossings, enhancing road safety.
Another product designed by Portland Traffic is
the Zebstar Solar. A fully engineered and tested solar-powered solution,
designed to provide an off-grid Belisha beacon for locations where access to
mains power is difficult and impractical.
Zebra Crossing
explained
Zebra crossings are designated pedestrian
crossings marked by bold black-and-white stripes on the road throughout the
United Kingdom. On top of the markings is a black-and-white pole with flashing
amber beacons, known as Belisha beacons. Zigzag lines are painted on the road
approaching the crossing to ensure clear visibility for drivers, as these
crossings give pedestrians the right of way.
Engineers will choose this crossing for several
reasons. If the traffic speed is below 30mph, in areas with pedestrian demand,
such as school zones and urban areas. Zebra crossings are also faster and
easier to install and maintain than signal-controlled crossings, such as puffin
and toucan.
Puffin Crossing explained
Puffin crossings are a smart, sensor-equipped
pedestrian crossing that uses infrared technology to detect when pedestrians
are waiting to cross or are still on the crossing. The traffic signal
automatically adjusts to provide enough time for pedestrians to cross safely,
while minimising unnecessary delays for vehicles.
The red light for drivers remains on until the
crossing is clear, helping to improve both safety and traffic flow. Unlike
pelican crossings, puffin crossings do not have a flashing amber phase for
drivers, the signals change from steady amber to red, then return directly to
green once it is safe.
Puffing crossings are installed on busy roads,
near schools or in town centres. High-traffic routes will see a number of
puffin crossings to help improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow, to keep
the light red until all pedestrians have crossed.
Engineers typically install these crossings for
several reasons. In a busy area with heavy traffic, there is a need for a safe
pedestrian crossing. Puffin crossings will be installed for safety, with
on-crossing sensors detecting pedestrians and keeping the lights red until the
road is completely clear. Once clear, lights will immediately change to green,
reducing delays for motorists.
If a pedestrian presses the button and walks
away or crosses before the green signal appears, the sensors recognise this and
cancel the crossing demands.
Toucan Crossing
explained
Toucan crossings are traffic-controlled
intersections that allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross simultaneously.
These crossings require users to press a controlled button and wait until the
signal turns green. They are wider than traditional crossings and can be found
near parks, cycle paths and greenways. Cyclists do not need to dismount and are
legally allowed to cycle from one side to the other.
How Portland Traffic products are superior
for road safety
Portland Traffic offers superior products that
help enhance road safety. LED Belisha Beacons are manufactured from durable
materials that withstand the harshest conditions, making them a solid choice
for pedestrian safety at Zebra crossings. This range consists of Zebra crossing
lighting such as Zebstar, Zebstar +, Zebstar MID, Zebstar MID +, and Zebstar
Spotlight, all providing outstanding high-performance, high-efficiency, and
many years of trouble-free operation.
Portland Traffic provides illuminated crossing
signs, which are crucial for ensuring that drivers and pedestrians can see and
respond to important information, such as speed limits and crossing signs, no
matter the weather or lighting conditions.
Solar pedestrian crossing solutions offer a
sustainable, off-grid way to illuminate and alert drivers to footpaths, school
zones, and rural crossings without the cost or disruption of trenching for
mains power.
What Happened to
Pelican Crossings?
Pelican crossings were once widely used
throughout the UK and were well known for their flashing amber lights and
flashing green pedestrian signal. However, because they operate on fixed
timings, they cannot respond to real-time pedestrian movement. This means that
even if a pedestrian has finished crossing early, drivers may still have to
wait at the red light until the full crossing cycle has ended, resulting in
unnecessary delays.
Puffin crossings have overcome this issue by
using sensors to detect when pedestrians are still on the crossing. Once the
final pedestrian has crossed, the signal will return to normal, helping improve
the flow of traffic, whilst still remaining safe for pedestrians. This has
resulted in the Department for Transport and Transport for London support
replacing Pelican crossings with smarter, safer, and more efficient Puffin
crossings wherever appropriate.
Which Crossing Type Is Best for Different Locations?
Different types of crossings can be found in a wide variety of locations. It depends on the traffic volume, vehicle speed, types of users (pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians). These factors ensure maximum safety and traffic.
Zebra crossing - Perfect for low-speed and low-traffic areas with speeds under 30 mph. Pedestrians have a legal right of way as soon as they step onto the road, meaning the vehicle should be moving at a safe speed to stop and give way.
Puffing crossings - Ideal for busy and high-traffic areas with a variety of pedestrian needs. The use of intelligent sensors to detect when someone is crossing means that the traffic light adjusts automatically.
Toucan crossing- Perfect for the outskirts of
parks, cycle lanes, connected routes. They are wider to allow both pedestrians
and cyclists to cross the road safely at the same time.
FAQs
●
Which crossing is safest?
Puffin crossings are considered to be
the safest form of crossing within the UK due to the smart sensors that hold
traffic lights on red until pedestrians have crossed safely.
●
Why are puffin crossings replacing
pelican crossings?
Puffin crossings are replacing pelican
crossings as they are smarter and safer. Pelican crossings use a fixed timer
and flashing lights, so pedestrians have to be quick when crossing. Puffin
crossings use infrared sensors on the crossing to hold traffic until
pedestrians have crossed.
Puffin crossings avoid using flashing amber
lights for drivers and flashing green man for pedestrians, as these signals can
cause confusion about when it is safe to proceed.
●
Can cyclists use a zebra crossing?
Cyclists should dismount from their bikes when
crossing a Zebra crossing.
Zebra vs puffin crossings - Zebra crossings
require pedestrians to judge when it is safe to cross the road. In contrast,
puffin crossings use traffic signals to stop vehicles, allowing pedestrians to
cross more safely.
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What does toucan crossing mean?
Toucan crossings are a traffic light
controlled crossing that allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross at the same
time. These crossings are usually wider than standard crossings and feature a
green bicycle symbol with a green man next to it.
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What crossing should be used near
schools?
The specific layout of the road and traffic levels will determine which crossing is suitable for areas near a school. Zebra crossings are a good choice as they allow pedestrians the right of way when crossing.
How Portland Traffic Can
Help
Whether you’re upgrading an existing crossing,
specifying equipment for a new development or replacing ageing pedestrian
crossing infrastructure, Portland Traffic can supply reliable, compliant
crossing equipment designed for long-term performance.
