WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

There are currently seven different types of crossings in the UK, including the new tiger crossing, currently being trialled in London, in a bid to make it safer for cyclists.

With this in mind, a Uswitch survey recently quizzed 1,297 Brits on the existing rules for pedestrian, cyclist, and equestrian crossings to find out how much they know about road safety.
The results revealed that 81% don't know when drivers are legally required to stop at a zebra crossing, whilst one in four don't know who's permitted to use a toucan crossing.

What do motorists need to know about the different types of pedestrian crossings?

Zebra crossings

How do they work? Zebra crossings are marked with black and white stripes on the road and zigzag lines on either side. These markings warn drivers that there may be pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road. They also tell drivers that they must give way to pedestrians who have stepped onto the crossing.

Whilst most of us have probably used a pedestrian crossing, over 80% of drivers we surveyed have been using them wrong, revealing they don't know when to stop for pedestrians. Whilst drivers aren't legally required to stop for pedestrians approaching a zebra crossing, 81% think this is written in the Highway Code. Alongside this, 58% of drivers admitted they are hesitant about stopping for pedestrians who are lingering nearby.

The Highway Code currently states that motorists must only stop traffic for pedestrians who have stepped foot onto the zebra crossing, but not those approaching or waiting by the side of the road. With safety in mind, it also notes that pedestrians 'MUST NOT loiter on zebra, pelican or puffin crossings.'