Too many of use don’t know our crossings, according to a recent survey by temporary car insurance provider Tempcover. In fact, some of us believe in a crossing type… that doesn’t actually exist – but more on that later.

The survey of 2,000 people unearthed some serious knowledge gaps as well as bizarre misconceptions. Remember, any type of crossing is there to help those using the crossing – whether they’re pedestrians, cyclists or horse riders – get across the road safely.

And it’s clear that crossings are vital to road safety – according to official figures, 6,286 pedestrians were seriously injured or killed between January and December in 2022.

Here’s how the survey results break down (plus some worrying insights):

Zebra crossing

What does it look like? Series of white stripes that resemble the markings on a zebra. There are flashing orange beacons on each side of the road.

What is it? The crossing does not feature traffic lights. Instead, pedestrians automatically have the right of way. If they are waiting to cross or are crossing, you must stop your vehicle and wait.

Any misconceptions? 9% of drivers did not recognise Zebra crossings as a real crossing type. Also, 29% couldn’t match the Zebra crossing to its description. Worst still, 6% confused it with a Pegasus crossing (these are designed for horse riders). Finally, 16% confessed they didn’t bother stopping if they saw a pedestrian waiting to cross.

Pelican crossing

What does it look like? It has no zebra stripes; instead, there are traffic lights plus two white, dashed lines on either side of the crossing area plus studs in between. Pedestrians must look across to opposite side of the road to see the signal for when it is safe to cross.

What is it? The pedestrian presses a button and waits for the lights to change to red before proceeding. Remember, when the traffic light flashes amber after red, as a motorist, you must wait for any pedestrians to finish crossing the road (plus be aware that someone may decide to make a final dash across the road. Finally, even if the light goes green, if someone is still crossing, you must wait.

Any misconceptions? 47% couldn’t match the Pelican crossing with its description.

Puffin crossing

What does it look like? Similar to a Pelican crossing but the pedestrian must look at the signal for safely crossing on the same side of the road (usually found on the same pole as the button they need to push).

What is it? As well as relying on pedestrians to push a button, a Puffin crossing also has sensors. These detect whether there is a pedestrian waiting to cross or is in the process of crossing, making the crossing safer and more efficient. Importantly, there is no amber phase – just green or red with the sensor deciding when to switch between the two. You must wait until the pedestrian has crossed before moving off.

Any misconceptions? 85% of drivers misidentified what a Puffin crossing is actually for with 50% admitting they didn’t know the answer.

Toucan and Pegasus crossings

What do they look like and what are they? Similar in look to Puffin crossings but with a wider crossing. This is to accommodate cyclists as well as pedestrians (look for a bicycle/pedestrian symbol on signage) for Toucan crossings and horse riders for Pegasus crossings (look for a horse symbol on signage).

Any misconceptions? 81% couldn’t identify a Toucan crossing while Pegasus crossings were the least recognised with only 8% identifying them as genuine.

Penguin crossing

What is it? Made up by Tempcover to show that some drivers don’t know their crossings from their elbows with 5% believing there was such a thing as Penguin crossing. Perhaps it should be introduced with the proviso that pedestrians must waddle, not walk, across it.

“Understanding the differences between crossings helps drivers make quicker, safer decisions, especially when driving in unfamiliar areas. At Tempcover, we know that every journey, whether it’s a daily commute or a one-off trip, comes with its own challenges, and a stronger understanding of pedestrian crossings can make the roads safer for everyone.”

• Claire Wills-Mckissick, Tempcover

Know Your Code

Double your chances of theory test success with Theory Test Pro. Sign up for free here.

Image by Herbert Bieser from Pixabay