Anyone know the difference between Crossings ?
Discussion
Does anyone know the difference between a Pelican,Toucan and a Puffin Crossing ?
I was asked this the other night by a Divisional Police Officer in order to settle an argument.
Obviously, if you look at a Highway Code then you will find the answer.....im just interested to know if you knew the answer in the first instance.
I was asked this the other night by a Divisional Police Officer in order to settle an argument.
Obviously, if you look at a Highway Code then you will find the answer.....im just interested to know if you knew the answer in the first instance.
Here's hoping I do better than in your little motorway test . . .
Pelican - pedestrian crossing controlled by traffic lights, flashing amber phase
Puffin - pedestrian crossing controlled by traffic lights, no flashing amber phase
Toucan - as above but for pedestrians and bicycles, no idea whether there is a flashing phase
>> Edited by whoozit on Tuesday 14th October 10:29
Pelican - pedestrian crossing controlled by traffic lights, flashing amber phase
Puffin - pedestrian crossing controlled by traffic lights, no flashing amber phase
Toucan - as above but for pedestrians and bicycles, no idea whether there is a flashing phase
>> Edited by whoozit on Tuesday 14th October 10:29
Actually, here's a point:
Aside from regularly keeping up to date with the highway code (which 99% of people will never do), how is information about changes to the road system supposed to be communicated to the public?
We seem to have lost all the public service announcements, apart from the good old "Think! Speed Kills" message
Aside from regularly keeping up to date with the highway code (which 99% of people will never do), how is information about changes to the road system supposed to be communicated to the public?
We seem to have lost all the public service announcements, apart from the good old "Think! Speed Kills" message
pdV6 said:
Actually, here's a point:
Aside from regularly keeping up to date with the highway code (which 99% of people will never do), how is information about changes to the road system supposed to be communicated to the public?
We seem to have lost all the public service announcements, apart from the good old "Think! Speed Kills" message
For instance, when I arrive at many traffic lights near me, the white line that I normally would wait at has been brought back a couple of metres, the tarmac painted green and a picture of a bike has been painted on the road. What the hell is this? Nobody's told me what it means and I never see cyclists use them as they don't bother stopping at lights anyway.
Back on topic.
I can't remember anything about these crossings. One of the is where there's an island inbetween the different sides of the road for the peds to wait on. And another is usable by cyclists.
pelican: a crossing for peds only, timings, and sequence of lights varies slightly
Toucan: similar but for peds and cyclists. many have an indicator on the push button unit telling them whether to cross or not
Puffin: similar to a pelican but using push button indicators in place of the sgnal head. most definign features are the sensors that detect peds. if someone pushes a button a walks away, it detects this cancels the demand. if someone is taking a long time to cross, it holds the red to traffic for longer to give them more time
Toucan: similar but for peds and cyclists. many have an indicator on the push button unit telling them whether to cross or not
Puffin: similar to a pelican but using push button indicators in place of the sgnal head. most definign features are the sensors that detect peds. if someone pushes a button a walks away, it detects this cancels the demand. if someone is taking a long time to cross, it holds the red to traffic for longer to give them more time
Pelican - Pedestrian pushes button, timed sequence for light changes.
Puffin - Pedestrian pushes button, sensors detect pedestrians on road and changes light sequence to suit.
Toucan - Pedestrian and cyclists can cross together, i.e. "Two can" cross.
I only know because I researched different types of crossing to apply instead of daft speed humps - how the hell does a speed hump assist children crossing the road?????
ing councils!
Puffin - Pedestrian pushes button, sensors detect pedestrians on road and changes light sequence to suit.
Toucan - Pedestrian and cyclists can cross together, i.e. "Two can" cross.
I only know because I researched different types of crossing to apply instead of daft speed humps - how the hell does a speed hump assist children crossing the road?????
ing councils!Byff said:
how the hell does a speed hump assist children crossing the road?????
And in fact they can make it more dangerous. Because there seems to be a tendency to put drop kerbs beside them making people think that they're a crossing.
Back to the crossings - I was just checking the highway code to satisfy my own curiosity and noticed that it's no longer the green man you wait for, it's the green figure.
Byff said:
[snip] - how the hell does a speed hump assist children crossing the road?????
Originally posted in another thread, but very relevant to your question:
==
I wouldn't be at all surprised by what numpty pedestrians (who might also be drivers) think road markings are all about.
Outside Farnham Railway Station in Surrey there is a speed bump. It has white triangles painted on it. It does not have pedestrian crossing lights of any kind.
Yet many pedestrians have stepped off the footway in front of my car and other cars as if the speed bump was a pedestrian crossing and they had the right of way. In such cases I usually give them an 'audible warning of approach" (air horns) and in reply they usually indicate that they have heard it with both ears!
But on one glorious occasion ...
As I approached, a man stepped off the footway on my off-side and a car coming in the opposite direction stopped to let them cross. I, however, continued at moderate speed over the speed bump, giving the pedestrian a melodious tootle on the horn as I did so. A few seconds later the car that had stopped appeared in my mirrors with flashing blue lights on the roof and an altogether different horn sound blaring. It was one of Surrey's marked 'Area Cars' (BTW - I had recognised it as such at the time). I stopped and waited. The 'observer' (a sergeant) arrived at my window demanding to know why I had failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing! I pointed out that it was not a pedestrian crossing but he insisted that it was. I requested to be shown the evidence for this and returned (in the police car, at my request) to the scene of the so-called 'incident'. The officer and I got out (to the interest of a small crowd and the delight of the person who had been crossing the road at the time). The 'observer' pointed out that the speed bump had white lines painted on it and therefore was a pedestrian crossing. I pointed out that the lines were triangles not white bars alternating with black tarmac in equal divisions (as for a pedestrian crossing) and were entirely in keeping with the indicative markings for a speed bump. The officer drew my attention to the fact that the 'crossing' joined one 'drop' in the footway on one side of the road with a corresponding 'drop' on the other. I pointed out that the drops existed before the speed bump was installed and neither contributed to nor changed the purpose of the speed bump. I also pointed out the absence of pedestrian crossing lights. I further pointed out that this was a private road (the property of Railtrack at the time, and gated at one end - which gate is closed by 'Railtrack' from time to time to maintain the private status of the road) and therefore any alleged crossing would have no standing under the Road Traffic Act 1980 and, even if it were a pedestrian crossing, Surrey Police would have no immediate jurisdiction over it in any 'incident' such as was alleged.
With that he looked a little puzzled and called 'Control' on his radio and (I presume) spoke to a (more) senior officer. After a while, he returned and 'apologised', explaining that he had been informed that I was correct. I asked whether he was going to speak to the pedestrian (who was still in the small crowd) in regard to his stepping off the footway without regard to his safety or that of other road users (ie. me). "No." replied the sergeant. I then asked whether they would be so kind as to give me a lift back to my car. "F
k off!" he replied, then added, "And don't worry, I've got your number, and I'll be watching out for you!". I traded the car in for my Jeep two days later (a planned sale)! ==
Streaky
>> Edited by streaky on Tuesday 14th October 16:22
Surely this is question for pedestrianheads.com - not getting run over matters.
I slow or stop at amber lights, always stop at red ones, and keep going at green ones, all the while keeping my eyes raised for children who might dart out after the ball and driving at a speed appropriate to the conditions.
All the rest is just details.
I slow or stop at amber lights, always stop at red ones, and keep going at green ones, all the while keeping my eyes raised for children who might dart out after the ball and driving at a speed appropriate to the conditions.
All the rest is just details.
streaky said:
[snip] - how the hell does a speed hump assist children crossing the road?????
Originally posted in another thread, but very relevant to your question:
==
I wouldn't be at all surprised by what numpty pedestrians (who might also be drivers) think road markings are all about.
Outside Farnham Railway Station in Surrey there is a speed bump. It has white triangles painted on it. It does not have pedestrian crossing lights of any kind.
Yet many pedestrians have stepped off the footway in front of my car and other cars as if the speed bump was a pedestrian crossing and they had the right of way. In such cases I usually give them an 'audible warning of approach" (air horns) and in reply they usually indicate that they have heard it with both ears!
But on one glorious occasion ...
As I approached, a man stepped off the footway on my off-side and a car coming in the opposite direction stopped to let them cross. I, however, continued at moderate speed over the speed bump, giving the pedestrian a melodious tootle on the horn as I did so. A few seconds later the car that had stopped appeared in my mirrors with flashing blue lights on the roof and an altogether different horn sound blaring. It was one of Surrey's marked 'Area Cars' (BTW - I had recognised it as such at the time). I stopped and waited. The 'observer' (a sergeant) arrived at my window demanding to know why I had failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing! I pointed out that it was not a pedestrian crossing but he insisted that it was. I requested to be shown the evidence for this and returned (in the police car, at my request) to the scene of the so-called 'incident'. The officer and I got out (to the interest of a small crowd and the delight of the person who had been crossing the road at the time). The 'observer' pointed out that the speed bump had white lines painted on it and therefore was a pedestrian crossing. I pointed out that the lines were triangles not white bars alternating with black tarmac in equal divisions (as for a pedestrian crossing) and were entirely in keeping with the indicative markings for a speed bump. The officer drew my attention to the fact that the 'crossing' joined one 'drop' in the footway on one side of the road with a corresponding 'drop' on the other. I pointed out that the drops existed before the speed bump was installed and neither contributed to nor changed the purpose of the speed bump. I also pointed out the absence of pedestrian crossing lights. I further pointed out that this was a private road (the property of Railtrack at the time, and gated at one end - which gate is closed by 'Railtrack' from time to time to maintain the private status of the road) and therefore any alleged crossing would have no standing under the Road Traffic Act 1980 and, even if it were a pedestrian crossing, Surrey Police would have no immediate jurisdiction over it in any 'incident' such as was alleged.
With that he looked a little puzzled and called 'Control' on his radio and (I presume) spoke to a (more) senior officer. After a while, he returned and 'apologised', explaining that he had been informed that I was correct. I asked whether he was going to speak to the pedestrian (who was still in the small crowd) in regard to his stepping off the footway without regard to his safety or that of other road users (ie. me). "No." replied the sergeant. I then asked whether they would be so kind as to give me a lift back to my car. "F
==
Streaky
>> Edited by streaky on Tuesday 14th October 16:22
LOVELY AINT THEY SO HELP FULL TO THE PUBLIC.
but of cause that must be a compleat oneoff.
most bibs would never act like that
yea right
never heard of toucan and puffin when i read this threadGive me a good old fashioned Zebra crossing any day, whether as a driver or pedestrian, where eye contact and courtesy work very effectively.
As we all know, anything with a red light is inherently very dangerous. I hate road junctions with traffic lights for example where a roundabout would be safer AND speed up the flow of traffic.
I often seriously wonder whether there's collusion at a high level between ministers and directors of traffic management companies - got to keep the share price growing you know!
As we all know, anything with a red light is inherently very dangerous. I hate road junctions with traffic lights for example where a roundabout would be safer AND speed up the flow of traffic.
I often seriously wonder whether there's collusion at a high level between ministers and directors of traffic management companies - got to keep the share price growing you know!
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff