Know the Green Cross Code

It is not just for children, it is for all pedestrians.

Find a safe place to cross, then stop
Stand on the pavement near the kerb
Look all around for traffic and listen
If traffic is coming, let it pass – look all around again
When there is no traffic near, walk straight across the road
Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross.

General guidance for pedestrians and how to use the following;

Footways or Footpaths

These should be used if provided, where possible, avoid walking next to the kerb with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road, look both ways first.

If there is no footpath, walk on the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic. You should take extra care and be prepared to walk in single file, especially on narrow roads or in poor light. Keep close to the side of the road.

General Crossing

When using any type of crossing you should

Always check that the traffic has stopped before you start to cross or push a pram onto a crossing
Always cross between the studs or over the zebra markings. Do not cross at the sides of the crossing or on the zigzag lines, as it can be dangerous. You MUST NOT loiter on zebra, pelican, toucan or puffin crossings

Zebra Crossing

Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. Vehicles will need more time when the road is slippery. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing. Wait until the traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Keep looking both ways and listening, in case a driver or rider has not seen you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped.

At Traffic Lights

There may be special signals for pedestrians. You should only start to cross the road when the green figure shows. If you have started to cross the road and the green figure goes out, you should still have time to reach the other side, but do not delay. If no pedestrian signals have been provided, watch carefully and do not cross until the traffic lights are red and the traffic has stopped. Keep looking and check for traffic that may be turning the corner. Remember that traffic lights may let traffic move in some lanes while traffic in other lanes has stopped.

Pelican Crossings

These are signal-controlled crossings operated by pedestrians. Push the control button to activate the traffic signals. When the red figure shows, do not cross. When a steady green figure shows, check that the traffic has stopped then cross with care. When the green figure begins to flash you should not cross. If you have already started you should have time to finish crossing safely. At some pelican crossings there is a bleeping sound to indicate to blind or partially-sighted people when the steady green figure is showing and there may be a tactile signal to help deaf/blind people. When the road is congested, traffic on your side of the road may be forced to stop even though their lights are green. Traffic may still be moving on the other side of the road, so press the button and wait for the signal to cross.

Puffin and Toucan crossings

These differ from pelican crossings as there is no flashing green figure phase. On puffin crossings the red and green figures are above the control box on your side of the road. Press the button and wait for the green figure to show. On toucan crossings cyclists are permitted to ride across the road.

Staggered Pelican or Puffin Crossings

When the crossings on each side of the central refuge are not in line they are two separate crossings. On reaching the central island press the button again and wait for a steady green figure

Crossings Controlled by an Authorised Person

Do not cross the road unless you are signalled to do so by a police officer, traffic warden or school crossing patrol. Always cross in front of them.

Where there are no controlled crossing points available it is advisable to cross where there is an island in the middle of the road. Use the Green Cross Code to cross to the island and then stop and use it again to cross the second half of the road.