h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"The only time you get traffic lights without pedestrian buttons is on roads where pedestrians are not allowed, such as slip-roads and end-of- motorway intersections."

I think that you've been living in London too long Jimster, traffic lights are all over my town with no crossings! but I'll have another look into it tomorrow. I'll have a look in my Roadcraft book at home, and if that's no help I'll ring the highways agency.

I'll also do the typo and (reminder to me) change the metal studs to white studs tomorrow.

'traffic lights are all over my town with no crossings!'

So, um, they're not zebra crossings either then

It might also be worth mentioning that some zebra crossings are raised, particularly if they are in a run of speed humps. There's one like this in Greenwich. A bit like a speed table, but only as wide as the zebra crossing.

"So, um, they're not zebra crossings either then"

But that's not what you said! I'm confused....

I'll add that in about speed humps as well.

Mina, I think I've confused myself

I've got a good excuse though, it's the horse tranquilliers for my foot.

Funny, cos I only chipped up to agree with what you'd originally said - I agree that opening up the entry might fufge it a bit, it's fine as it is IMO.

(That word again - fufge. Absolutely not a typo, no way)

Jims

Hi Mina - a little interesting fact, that you might wish to add.

Legally, in the UK, the kerb stones are part of the 'road' - therefore a pedestrian with a foot on the kerbstone has legal precedence, and there was a case a few years ago where a lady successfully sued a cyclist for not stopping, despite the fact she hadn't stepped down off the kerb. I'll try and dig out a link for you.

Nice entry, though.

B

WEll, according to my local council highways department, if they have lights they are a pelicon crossing, and they shouldn't have a zebra as well. So I'm actually going to remove the mention of traffic lights because I think that it's a one-off.

MAster B, I'd love that link, although I'm going to do a bit of research on it as well. Typically, I haven't got my highway code here today.

I'll do the other changes now.

I didn't say there _was_ a link, although I heard it from a fairly reliable source, so it's unlikely to be urban legend.

B

Sorry, I must have misunderstood. I'll have a look through google anyway. It's not something that I've heard before, although it does explain why the GCC teaches us not to stand on the kerb.

Yeah - I'm sure, at least, that that much of it is true. The kerbstones are technically, and legally, part of the road and not of the pavement.

B

Which, we could assume, is why the Green Cross Code warns us to stand well back from the kerb?

And that some drivers like to drive with a wheel on the kerb, particularly HGV going round corners.

spelugx -- 5913 days without a road traffic accident

Hmm, well, I'm not sure that they're supposed to do that!

So does this mean that you can legally park on the kerb, since it isn't part of the pavement?

Yeah, but it'll knacker your tyres, unless they're very thin ones.

B

Nice entry! I didn't know you ukians had such weird names for your pedestrian crossings.
I think you're right to leave it as an entry on UK ZCs as a lot of it doesn't apply to other countries. I also think you could leave out the link to the Green Cross Code. If for no other reason than that it annoyed me. (I'll come up with some better reasons if you disagree.)

As I can't find any information anywhere, about whether the kerb is part of the road or the pavement, I'll leave this out of the entry. All I can find is that parking on the pavement is illegal - which I knew anyway.

My memory isn't what it was but panda crossing seems to apply to a black and white crossing with lights. However there is no mention of it in my copy of Driving. Can anyone else remember panda crossings?

It does seem to be a difficult ruling to track down, Mina. The best I can come up with is the definition of a road under Australian Law, which 'shall include within its constraints all boundaries and dividing markers, including kerbs...and flora.'

B

I've searched for panda crossings, and apparently they were introduced in 1962. But I can't find a picture of one, or any further information about what they were/are. There's nothing in the online highway code either.

Thanks Master B, I can't use an Aussie rule though.