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A pedestrian crossing, or crosswalk, is a designated point on a road at which some means are employed to assist pedestrians wishing to cross the road. Pedestrian crossings may have regular traffic lights (where those for the pedestrians are usually without yellow) or special coloured lamps or non-illuminated signs ( Belisha beacons) to alert drivers of vehicles. In the United States, some are marked using the abbreviation Ped Xing.Pedestrian crossings are often at intersections. They are also at other points on busy roads that would otherwise be perilous to attempt to cross. They are also common near schools or in other areas where there are a large number of children.
They are one of several types of traffic calming techniques.
1 Pedestrian crossings in the U.K.
In the United Kingdom, animal names are used to distinguish several types of such crossings:
2 Pedestrian crossings in the U.S.
In the United States, other terms and techniques exist:
- Crosswalks, occasionally raised, almost always marked on both sides with thick white lines
- Zebra stripes or zebra crossings, though American versions do not use separate beacons like the U.K. equivalent, but are usually seen only at busy intersections with traffic lights
- Pedestrian refuge s or small islands in the middle of a street
- Curb (or kerb) extensions (also known as bulb-outs) which narrow the width of the street and are used in combination with crosswalk markings
3 Enhancements for disabled users
Pedestrian controlled crossings are sometimes provided with enhanced features to assist the disabled. Enhancements may include:
- Tactile cones near the control button. These rotate when the pedestrian signal is green - the image of a "green man". This provides an indication to pedestrians incapable of seeing the lights that a crossing is possible with a degree of safety.
- Tactile surfacing pattern laid flush within the adjacent footways (US: sidewalks), so that visually impaired pedestrians can locate the control box and cone device and know when their crossing manoeuvre has been accomplished.
- Audible signals, such as beeps, in order to assist blind or partially sighted pedestrians. Or in ScotlandScotland or in Scottish Gaelic, Alba is a country and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four nations comprising the United Kingdom. Scotland occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland took part in a p a short record message.
- Vibrating button in addition to audible signal is used in Australia to assist hearing impaird.
4 See also
