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17
- Tidal flow lane control signs and signals
On
some busy roads, lane control signals are used to vary thenumber
of lanes available to give priority to the main traffic flow.
The lane control signals are displayed above
the road to indicate the availability of the various lanes. A green
arrow indicates that the lane is available to traffic facing the
signal. A white diagonal arrow means thatthe lane is closed ahead
and traffic should move to the next lane on the left. A red cross
means that the lane is closed to traffic facing the signal
Pedestrian,
cycle andequestrian crossings
Zig-zag road markings
The zig-zag markings at crossings arethere to ensure that drivers
andpedestrians can see each other clearly.As a driver, you must
not park yourvehicle anywhere within these markings(before or after
the crossing). Also, youmust not overtake a moving motorvehicle
within the zig-zag area beforethe crossing, nor must you overtake
avehicle that has stopped next to thecrossing either to obey signals
orbecause pedestrians are using a Zebracrossing (see page 127).
If you are in aqueue of vehicles that extends over acrossing, you
should keep the crossingclear and look out for pedestrians whomight
be in the road. As a pedestrian,for your own safety, do not cross
theroad within the area marked by thezig-zags: keep to the crossing.Crossings
for cyclists or horse ridersalso have zig-zag markings, and theabove
rules apply to these also.
Puffin crossings
The Puffin is the latest type of pedestrian crossing controlled
bysignals. It can detect the movement of pedestrians, so that it
cangive them enough time to cross safely and keep any delay todrivers
to a minimum. The pedestrian crossing time isautomatically varied
according to the actual needs of thepedestrian and, if after the
push button has been pressed thepedestrian decides to walk away,
the call is automaticallycancelled and the pedestrian phase will
not appear. This avoidsunnecessary delay to vehicular traffic and
the irritation that mightbe caused by stopping vehicles when no
pedestrians are waitingto cross.
For drivers approaching the crossing, the signals operate in thesame
manner as those shown on page 119: there is no flashingamber signal
as used for the older Pelican crossing. If you arerequired to stop,
do not proceed until you have a green signaland have checked carefully
that the way is clear.
The signals for pedestrians are locatedabove the push button and
are knownas near-side signals. They can be seenwhen pedestrians
are facing oncomingtraffic. If the green walking figure isshowing,
you may cross the road, buttake care in doing so. If the redstanding
figure is showing, press thepush button and wait for the greenfigure
to show. Unlike in oldercrossings, the green figure does notflash
before the signals change back tored. If the red figure comes on
whenyou are about to cross, press the pushbutton and do not cross.
Traffic will stillbe held on red for those pedestrianswho are already
crossing the roadwhen the red figure comes on.
Toucan crossings
A Toucan crossing is used by both pedestrians and cyclists.Pedestrian
and cycle signals are side by side and may be eithernear-side signals
as for Puffin crossings, or located on theopposite side of the road
(far-side signals). The signals for traffictravelling along the
road (including pedal cycles) operate in thesame manner as those
for Puffin crossings.
Cyclists who need to cross the roadwill be directed to a cycle facility
offthe main carriageway, adjacent to thewaiting area for pedestrians.
Near-sidesignals include red and green pedalcycle symbols, together
with a callbutton for use by both pedestrians andcyclists. These
signals operate in asimilar manner to those for Puffincrossings.
Far-side signals have boththe green and red pedestrian signals,but
only a green cycle signal. If the redstanding figure is showing,
either apedestrian or cyclist should push thecall button and wait
until the greenpedestrian and cycle signals show.Cyclists may ride
across Toucans,whereas they should dismount at othercrossings.
Equestrian crossings
Pelican crossings
The Pelican is the older type of pedestrian crossing with far-sidesignals.
It will eventually be replaced by the Puffin crossing. At the end
of the pedestrian phase, thegreen pedestrian signal flashes before
the red standing figureshows. At the same time, the redsignal for
vehicular traffic changes toa flashing amber signal. The significance
of these signals is that pedestrians should notstart to cross, but
should continue ifalready on the crossing; drivers mayproceed, but
only if the crossing iscompletely clear
Signal-controlled junctions
Road junctions controlled by traffic signals may include crossingfacilities
for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. The signalsmay be either
near-side or far-side. You should press the pushbutton and wait
for the green pedestrian, cycle or horse signal toshow. Make sure
that all traffic has stopped before crossing.Far-side signals for
pedestrians operate differently from Pelicancrossings. The green
signal is followed by a blank signal: do notstart to cross, but
continue if you are already on the crossing.
Signalled crossings with central islands
Some signalled crossings may have central refuge islands. Wherethe
crossings on each side of the island are in line, they operateas
a single crossing. Where the crossings are staggered, theyoperate
as two separate crossings.
Zebra crossings
Pedestrians should never crossthe road within the zig-zag area.Drivers
should stop at thebroken "give way" line (about1 metre before the
crossing)when pedestrians are usingthe crossing. Some crossingsmay
be close to junctionswhere queuing takes place(e.g. at a roundabout).
Driversshould not queue over thecrossing and should take extracare
when moving off, keeping alookout for pedestrians. If thereare two
traffic lanes, but onlyone has a queue that extendsover the crossing,
drivers in thefree-flowing lane should proceedwith care and be prepared
tostop, as pedestrians on thecrossing may be obscured bystationary
vehicles. You must notovertake a vehicle that hasstopped at the
"give way" line toallow pedestrians to cross.
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