How to Deal With Zebra Crossings
If you’ve ever wondered what zebra crossings are, or how to deal with them, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will teach you how to deal with zebra crossings on the road. It will also help you to identify them when taking your driving lessons.
What are zebra crossings?
Zebra crossings are designed to give pedestrians an opportunity to cross roads safely. They must have red tactile surfacing and flush kerbs. They can also have a footway build-out to identify waiting pedestrians. Footway build-outs can also help narrow a carriageway. The design of Zebra crossings is regulated by the Department of Transport.
Some local authorities have installed Zebra crossings in areas where there are heavy pedestrian flows. For example, Beckenham has recently installed many of these crossings on around the High Street, a street with high traffic flow. These are the first Zebra crossings to be installed in Beckenham for years. This will give pedestrians a higher priority and reduce vehicle delays. These new crossings will be monitored to see how effective they are.
Zebra crossings are marked by distinctive stripes painted on the pavement. The stripes are a reminder to approaching motorists that they are crossing a road and must yield to pedestrians. Some zebra crossings also have signs and flashing lights. They are typically located at intersections or partway through a block.
How to deal with zebra crossings when driving
zigzag lines on a zebra crossing
When you approach a Zebra crossing, you should look at your mirrors to see become aware of following traffic, then look to see if there is someone on the either side of the crossing. If there is, proceed slowly and carefully and prepare to stop for pedestrians. Be sure to keep your distance from other vehicles, particularly those on high-side positions such as trucks or buses, as they may block your vision. Also, do not park your car on the zigzag lines, because this will block pedestrians. Zigzag lines are designed to act as a keep clear so that pedestrians will always be visible to approaching traffic.
Approach a zebra crossing slowly and look for yellow lights and beacons. If you can, look beyond the crossing as well. While this is not a legal requirement under Highway Code, it is the best way to ensure everyone’s safety. If you don’t slow down, you could miss a pedestrian or end up getting a ticket for speeding.
When driving, you should also look for road signs warning you of a pedestrian crossing. This will help you react safely as soon as possible. Be vigilant and look for cyclists and pedestrians constantly.
How to identify zebra crossings on driving lessons
Zebra crossings are uncontrolled crossings that are not controlled by traffic lights. They are marked with black and white stripes on the road and zig-zag lines near the curb. Drivers approaching these crossings must adjust their speed and keep a lookout for pedestrians. If they fail to stop for pedestrians, they could face points on their licence.
When approaching a zebra crossing, check your rear-view mirror and slow down. You should look out for a pedestrian to cross, and if you do not see one, slow down and check your mirrors. Drivers should also be extra cautious at night, and slow down or stop completely if they notice a pedestrian.
As a learner driver, it is important to keep a watch out for pedestrians and cyclists. Cyclists present particular problems at Zebra Crossings, and the regulations state that they should dismount before crossing. However, many cyclists do not comply with these regulations. Parallel Crossings are a newly introduced style of Zebra crossing, which allows cyclists to cross without the need to dismount.
The pedestrian crossings can be hazardous and must be treated with the upmost care. By learning to identify, anticipate and plan the approaches to these crossings, you should be able to navigate them safely everytime.
