FAQs

What’s the difference between an uncontrolled (informal) and controlled (formal) pedestrian crossing? 

Uncontrolled crossings tend to include dropped kerbs and buff coloured tactile paving to facilitate easy movement and indicate the location and direction of where people are to cross. Typical informal crossings include:  

Uncontrolled crossings can be introduced without any informal or formal consultation. 

Controlled Crossing - these are normally located at sites where there are high volumes of traffic and pedestrians with red coloured tactile paving unless it’s located in a conservation area.  

There are currently five types of controlled pedestrian crossings in the UK: Zebra, Pelican, Puffin, Toucan and Pegasus crossings.  

They are all subject to a formal (statutory) consultation. 

What is a Zebra crossing? 

A Zebra crossing consists of a black and white striped carriageway, footway tactile paving and amber flashing roadside beacons.  

They give pedestrians priority over vehicles but require people to step safely onto the crossing to initiate this.  

Pedestrians must ensure motorists have seen them and come to a stop before crossing the road. 

The absence of signal controls makes Zebra crossings unsuitable for locations with fast moving traffic, or where a constant flow of pedestrians is likely to cause excessive congestion. 

What are Pelican and Puffin crossings? 

Pelican and Puffin crossings provide a controlled safer system to cross a carriageway for pedestrians using signals to control the movement of motorised traffic. 

These are for pedestrian use only.  

Both crossing uses a pedestrian operated push button to stop the traffic and an illuminated red and green man is used to signal when pedestrians are to cross the road.  

Both crossings include a tactile cone under the push button unit, which rotates when the green man symbol is lit and may include an audible signal (beeping sound) too which indicates when it’s safe to cross.  

The Pelican crossing provides a set timed period for pedestrians crossing. 

Pedestrians operate the crossing by pressing the button located on the signal pole adjacent to the tactile paving, then wait until the traffic stops and the green man is lit on the traffic pole on the opposite side of the road. before crossing. 

The Puffin is an updated version of the Pelican as , it is fitted with a detector that automatically varies the crossing period to ensure itit’s that the crossing is clear before allowing vehicles to proceed.  

The green/red man is located on the signal pole above the wait/push button and not on the opposite side of the road. This is to encourage pedestrians to look at the traffic as well as the lit red/green man.symbol. 

All new pedestrian only signalised crossings will be Puffins crossing while  and existing Pelican crossings will be phased out with new Puffin equipment. 

What is a Toucan crossing? 

These are basically the same as a Puffin crossing, however they are wider and include a red and green illuminated cycle symbol as well as the red and green man. 

What is Side Road Entry Treatment (SRET)? 

Side road entry treatment is where the carriageway is raised to the same level as the footway in the sideroad, creating a raised table with ramps either side for vehicles to enter/exit the side road.  

The raised carriageway aims to slow traffic entering the side road and aids pedestrians to cross the side road,, especially the elderly, wheelchair users and those using pushchairs.  

What are the benefits of Side Road Entry Treatments?

These not only provide a convenient level place to cross side roads for pedestrians walking along the main road, but also includes the following benefits: 

Each road will be clearly signed at the start of the 20mph speed limit, with upright 20mph static signs and 20mph roundels (road markings).  

The 20mph road markings will also be repeated throughout the zone.  

There may also be proposed 20mph flashing Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) to remind drivers to keep to the new lower speed limit if required. 

 How does lower speeds improve road safety? 

It’s been proven that by reducing vehicle speeds, the likelihood of a collision occurring and its severity is significantly reduced.  

Collision data from around the world shows the faster a vehicle is travelling the more likely a collision will occur because the driver has less time to react, stop or avoid the collision, thus resulting in more severe injuries. 

TFL shows that since 20mph limits were introduced on key roads in London in 2020, the number of overall collisions reduced by 25%.  

Collisions involving vulnerable road users decreased by 36% and those involving people walking decreased by 63%, while collisions resulting in death or serious injury reduced by 25%. 

What other benefits do 20mph limits provide? 

As well as road safety benefits, there are also positive environmental and health advantages in reducing vehicle speeds to 20mph, including: 

 Reducing traffic speed helps make people feel more confident on their local streets and enables children and the elderly to travel independently and safely.  

Calmer road speeds also help make walking and cycling more attractive options, leading to less traffic congestion, better health, less noise, more social interaction and stronger communities.