Pedestrian crossings

By the end of this topic you can

• You can recognise zebra, pelican, toucan and signal-controlled crossings.
• You can approach a crossing at a speed that lets you stop.
• You can give way correctly at a zebra and during a flashing amber light.
• You can respond correctly to an adult or junior school warden.
• You can keep crossings and their zig-zag areas clear.

What you need to know and understand

• At a zebra crossing you must stop for pedestrians on the crossing, and you should slow down and be ready to stop for anyone waiting to cross.
• At a pelican crossing, a flashing amber light after the red means give way to pedestrians still crossing, then go when it is clear.
• If a zebra crossing has a central island, each half is a separate crossing.
• You must not overtake or park within the zig-zag lines either side of a crossing.
• When a school warden raises a Stop sign, you must stop and stay stopped until the warden is back on the footpath.
• Failing to stop for a school warden carries a fixed charge of 160 euro and 2 penalty points.
• A raised or coloured courtesy crossing is not a zebra, but you still slow right down and avoid anyone crossing.

Know the crossing in front of you

• Zebra: black and white stripes, signs and often flashing amber beacons, though some have no beacons. Stop for people on it and be ready to stop for anyone waiting.
• Pedestrian lights: ordinary red, amber, green for you; red and green man for walkers. Obey your lights.
• Pelican: like pedestrian lights, but a flashing amber follows the red. Give way to anyone still on the crossing.
• Toucan: lights for pedestrians and cyclists together. Watch for riders as well as walkers.
• Courtesy crossing: raised or coloured paving without zebra markings. It does not give zebra priority, but approach very slowly.

Approaching a crossing well

Look ahead early for people near the kerb, especially children and anyone with a buggy, a stick or a guide dog. Check your mirror, ease off and be ready to stop. If you stop, stop behind any stop line and do not let the car creep onto the stripes. Do not wave people across: another lane of traffic may not stop for them.

If traffic is queuing beyond the crossing, wait before it rather than stopping on it.

School wardens

Adult wardens wear a reflective coat and hat and carry a Stop sign. When it is raised, stop and wait until the children have crossed, the sign is lowered and the warden is back on the footpath. Junior wardens are senior primary pupils who work in teams; stay stopped until every one of them is back on the footpath.

Common mistakes

• Approaching a zebra too fast to stop for someone waiting at the kerb.
• Driving on as soon as the pelican amber starts flashing, while someone is still crossing.
• Overtaking a car that has slowed near a crossing. It may be stopping for a pedestrian you cannot see.
• Waving pedestrians across. Let them decide; you cannot control other traffic.
• Stopping on the crossing in queuing traffic.

Test yourself: Pedestrian crossings

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Pedestrian Crossings in Ireland