by Marsh Finance on Mar 21, 2025 3:22:35 PM
There are plenty of different pedestrian crossings in the UK, and it can be hard to know what each sign means. We’ve taken a look at the different types of crossings in the UK, including:
- Toucan crossing
- Puffin crossing
- Pelican crossing
- Zebra crossing
If you are preparing for your theory test or are just looking to build on your road knowledge, this blog is the perfect place to start.
Toucan Crossing – What Is It?
A toucan crossing is a pedestrian crossing that allows both bicycles and pedestrians to cross together. These crossings appear at traffic lights, and will display a green man and green bicycle when it’s safe to cross. Like any other crossing, you should approach a toucan crossing, press the button and wait for your green signal. A toucan crossing sign will display in a black box, and show an outline of a cyclist and a pedestrian, and will flicker between red and green when it’s time to stop or go.
Puffin Crossing – What Is It?
A puffin crossing is a smarter pedestrian crossing which uses sensors to spot if someone is waiting to cross. A pelican crossing has two outlines of pedestrians on them, with white zigzag lines on the road before and after the traffic light. This crossing uses sensors to spot if people are walking across the road slowly and will increase the amount of time the green pedestrian light is on. If you were to click the wait button and walk off, the puffin crossing will remove the request and ensure traffic doesn’t have to stop when it doesn’t need to.
What Is A Pelican Crossing?
A pelican crossing is the most common type of pedestrian crossing. It works by clicking a button and waiting for a green signal to walk. These crossings display white zigzags either side of them. You will find a pelican crossing at a traffic light.
What Is A Zebra Crossing?
A zebra crossing doesn’t have traffic lights and instead has black and white lines going across the road, with lampposts at either side of the road. These crossings can be tricky, so it’s best to be super aware when it comes to using one. If you are looking to cross at a zebra crossing, patiently wait for oncoming cars to stop, and then you can cross. With there being no lights at a zebra crossing, there is a chance for cars to drive straight through, even if you are waiting correctly. For this reason, take extra care at zebra crossings.
Pedestrian Crossing Conclusion
There are plenty of pedestrian crossings in the UK, and all work differently. In most cases, you will have a traffic light to wait at, but in some cases (zebra), you will have to trust your instincts and only cross when it is absolutely safe.
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Pedestrian Crossing FAQs
What is the difference between a toucan crossing and a pelican crossing?
A toucan crossing is set up for both bicycles and pedestrians to cross together. They display a bike and person outline and turn green when you can cross. A pelican crossing is only for pedestrians, bikes cannot cross there.
What are the different types of pedestrian crossings in the UK?
There are plenty of different pedestrian crossings in the UK. The most common ones are:
- Pelican crossing
- Toucan crossing
- Zebra crossing
- Puffin Crossing
What is a toucan crossing?
A toucan crossing is set up for both bicycles and pedestrians to cross. These display outlines of a person and a bike and turn green when it’s time to cross. Toucan crossings appear at traffic lights.
What is a pelican crossing?
A pelican crossing is a traditional crossing, where pedestrians must wait for a green signal to cross. On the crossing sign, a person outline shows. When it’s your turn to cross, it will turn green. Pelican crossings appear at traffic lights.
What is a zebra crossing?
A zebra crossing shows black and white lines going across a road. On either side of the road, there are lampposts which signal the zebra crossing. At these crossings, you need to wait until oncoming cars have come to a stop before crossing. Zebra crossings aren’t near traffic lights, and it can be tricky to cross at times, with cars sometimes ignoring the crossing and driving through. With this in mind, wait for cars to fully come to a stop, and only cross when you are certain that it is safe to do so.
What is a puffin crossing?
A puffin crossing is a smart pedestrian crossing that allows pedestrians to cross. Where a puffin crossing differs is in the technology. These crossings use sensors to detect when someone is ready to cross and also to measure how quickly someone is crossing a road. If someone presses the wait button and then walks off, the crossing will actually cancel, preventing cars from having to come to an unnecessary stop. If someone is walking across the puffin crossing at a slower speed than the average walker, it will increase the amount of time you have to cross.