Objectives: You should be able to identify uncontrolled and light-controlled pedestrian crossings and use the MSPSL routine on the approach.
You should know the rules of priority at pedestrian crossings, understand the meaning of road markings, road signs and signals, and give way to pedestrians when necessary.
MSPSL on the approach
When you see a pedestrian crossing, your first reaction should be to follow the MSPSL method, as follows:
Mirrors: What’s behind you and how close?
Signal: This is unlikely – see hand signals in The Highway Code for when an arm signal is necessary.
Position: There may be parked cars around the crossing so leave a safe gap, in case a sudden hazard appears (for example, someone’s car door opens).
Speed: If you can see the lights have just turned red or pedestrians are approaching a zebra crossing, then try to time your approach so that you don’t get there and suddenly have to brake hard. This can scare the pedestrians around the crossing.
Look: Look out for pedestrians that have pressed the pelican button on the yellow box. A white wait light should appear if the button has been pressed: that’s a clue that the lights may change. Scan the crossing early to see hazards developing and to avoid braking hard on the approach. Also, make sure you stop just before the stop/give-way line. Stopping over is an offence and can be deemed as a serious fault on the driving test.
Know your lights
Red = Stop.
Amber (steady) = STOP, if you can do so safely.
Red/Amber = Get ready to go.
Flashing Amber = Go if the crossing is clear.
Green = Go, if safe to do so.
Know your crossings
Zebra: Black and white lines printed on the road. Flashing amber beacons on both sides of road. You can go if the crossing is clear.
Pelican: Stop lines printed on the road indicate where to stop. Avoid stopping over them or on the crossing. These also have a yellow box that the pedestrian presses, so look out on the approach for a white wait light.
Puffin: Same layout as a pelican, except these have sensors on top of the crossing and detect movement so that if someone presses the button and walks off, the lights won’t change and hold up the traffic unnecessarily.
Toucan: Same sequence as pelican. The only difference is that cyclists can ride across. You should usually see a blue cycle route sign near the crossing to help determine if it’s a toucan on your approach.
Tips
- Zig zags: No parking/no overtaking.
- No straddling: Stop before the crossing but not on it.
- Pedestrians: If they are still on the crossing allow them to cross; don’t rev your engine.
- No waving: Avoid waving pedestrians to cross. It’s up to them. Only if they continue to wait, and you have acknowledged that they are there by stopping, should you proceed with caution. Although you think it might be helping them, it could be misleading as someone else may not have seen you waving and an accident may happen. Also, the examiner could mark it as a serious/minor fault, depending on the effect it has on others.
