13. Pedestrians (as well as motorists) have responsibilities for the
proper use of the road. They may be liable for the consequences to themselves
or to others through their failure to observe the Law.
Walking along
14. Where there is a pavement or adequate sidewalk, use
it. Avoid the casual use of the carriageway (jay walking). It is dangerous to
yourself and to others.
15. On a pavement or sidewalk, do not walk on the edge
and with your back to the traffic. Do not step into the road without first
ascertaining that you can do so safely.
16. Pedestrians should avoid walking in arterial roads
if no footway or hard shoulder is available.
17. Where no sidewalks or pavements are provided, or
where these are inadequate, walk on the right of the road facing traffic. You
must take extra care and be prepared to walk in single file if the road is
narrow or the light is bad. Always keep close to the road's edge. If there is
a sharp right-hand bend ahead cross the road early and then oncoming motorists
will be able to see you. Cross back again as soon as it is safe to do so. In
poor light conditions make sure that you are wearing or carrying something
light, and at night wear a reflective armband, jacket etc. Never wear dark
clothing at night.
18. Do not under any circumstances walk along the
carriageway where this is fenced off from the sidewalk or pavement by means of
railings or chains.
19. Do not loiter or linger unnecessarily on the
carriageway. Remember that the carriageway is first and foremost meant for the
circulation of vehicles.
20. Groups of people should always walk on the left
side of the road, or on a path. Look-outs should be at the front and rear,
showing lights at night (white at the front, red at the rear). Look-outs
should wear fluorescent clothes during the day, reflective clothes at night.
Crossing the road
21. The safe crossing code
The advice given below on crossing
the road is for all pedestrians. Children should be taught the Code
and should not be allowed out alone until they can understand and use
it properly. The age when they can do this is different for each
child. Many children cannot judge how fast vehicles are going or how
far away they are. Children learn by example, so parents and carers
should always use the Code in full when out with their children. They
are responsible for deciding at what age children can use it safely by
themselves.
22. First
find a safe place to cross. It is safer to cross using a subway , a
footbridge, an island, a zebra (pedestrian crossing) or pelican
crossing, or where there is a crossing point controlled by a police
officer, a school crossing patrol or a traffic warden. Otherwise
choose a place where you can see clearly in all directions. Try to
avoid crossing between parked cars and on blind bends and brows of
hills. Move to a space where drivers can see
you clearly.
23. Stop
just before you get to the kerb, where you can see if anything is
coming. Do not get too close to the traffic. If there is no pavement
or sidewalk keep back from the edge of the road but make sure you can
still see approaching traffic and the traffic can see you.
24. Look
all around for traffic and listen. Vehicles could come from any
direction. Listen well, because you can sometimes hear traffic before
you see it.
25. If
anything is coming, let it pass. Look all around again and listen. Do
not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain
that there is plenty of time. Remember, even if a vehicle is a long
way off, it may be approaching very quickly.
26. When it is safe, go straight across the
road - do not run, do not go on a diagonal. Keep looking and listening
for traffic while you cross, in case there is any traffic you did not
see, or in case other traffic appears suddenly.
At a junction
27. When crossing the road, look out for traffic turning
into the road, especially from behind you.
Pedestrian safety barriers
28. Where there are barriers, cross the road only where
there are gaps provided for pedestrians. Never climb over the barriers or walk
between them and the road.
Tactile paving
29. Small raised studs which can be felt by the foot may
be used to help tell blind or partially sighted people that they are approaching
a crossing point with a dropped kerb.
One-way streets
30. Always check which way the traffic is moving. Do not
cross until you are sure it is safe to do so. Never stop on the roadway. Bus and
cycle lanes may sometimes operate in the opposite direction to the rest of the
traffic.
Bus and cycle lanes
31. Take care when crossing these lanes as traffic may be
moving faster than in the other lanes, or against the flow of traffic.
Routes shared with cyclists
32. Cycle tracks may run alongside pavements, with a
dividing line segregating the two. Keep to the section for pedestrians. Take
extra care where cyclists and pedestrians share the same path without
separation.
Parked vehicles
33. If you have to cross between parked vehicles, use the
outside edges of the vehicles as if they were the kerb. Stop there and make sure
you can see all around and that the traffic can see you. Never cross the road
in front of, or behind, any vehicle with its engine running, especially a large
vehicle, as the driver may not be able to see you.
Reversing vehicles
34. Never cross behind a vehicle that may be about to reverse
or is reversing, showing white reversing lights or has an audible warning.
Moving vehicles
35. You MUST NOT get on or off or hold on to a
moving vehicle.
At night
36. Wear something reflective to make it easier for
others to see you. If there is no pedestrian crossing nearby, cross the road
near a street light so that traffic can see you more easily.
Crossings
At all crossings
37. When using any type of crossing you should:
• make sure that the
traffic has stopped before you start to cross over or push a pram onto a
crossing.
• always cross
between the studs or over the zebra markings. Never cross at the side of the
crossing or on the zigzag lines.
You MUST NOT stop on zebra or
pelican crossings.
Zebra crossings
38. Traffic may need plenty of time to see you and stop
at a crossing, and when the road is slippery vehicles will need even more time.
Wait until the road is clear, or traffic has stopped from both directions before
you cross. Keep looking both ways, and listening, in case a driver or rider
has not seen you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped.
39. Never stand on the kerb's edge at a pedestrian
crossing if you have no intention of crossing.
40. Never linger on a pedestrian crossing but cross as
quickly as possible.
41. When there is an island in the middle of a pedestrian
crossing, wait on the island before you cross the second half of the road - it
is a separate crossing.
42. Be careful when stepping on the roadway and claiming
right of way at a pedestrian crossing. Wait for gaps in the traffic especially
if there are a few pedestrians and the traffic has been stopped shortly before.
43. Where there is a pedestrian crossing place (or
subway) within a reasonable distance (50 metres or less) do not cross the road
at any other point.
At Traffic Lights and Pelican crossings
Traffic lights
44. There may be a special set of lights for
pedestrians. Only start to cross the road when the green
figure shows. If you have started to cross the road and the green figure goes
out, you should still have time to reach the other side, but do not delay.
If no pedestrian lights have been provided, watch carefully and do not cross
until the traffic lights are red and the traffic has stopped. Keep looking and
check for traffic that may be turning the corner. Remember that traffic lights
may let traffic move in some lanes while traffic in other lanes has stopped.
Pelican crossings
45. Push the control button to activate the traffic
signals. Whilst the red figure is showing, do not cross. When a steady green
figure shows, check the traffic has stopped then cross with care. Some crossings
may have a green figure that will flash as a warning that the lights are to
shortly change to red. When the green figure begins to flash you should not
start to cross. If you have already started you should have time to finish
crossing safely.
46. At some pelican crossings there is a bleeping sound
to indicate to blind or partially-sighted people when the steady green figure is
showing, and there may be a tactile signal to help handicapped people.
47. When the road is busy, traffic on your side of the
road may be forced to stop even though their lights are green. Traffic may still
be moving on the other side of the road, so always press the button and wait for
the signal to cross.
Light Signals controlling traffic
Keep the crossing clear
48.General light signals for traffic
RED means
'STOP'. Wait behind the stop line on the carriageway.
RED and AMBER also means 'Stop'. Do not pass
through or start until GREEN shows.
GREEN means
you may go on if the way is clear. Take special care if you intend to turn
left or right and give way to pedestrians who are crossing.
AMBER means'STOP' at the stop line. You may
go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or
are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident.
Flashing
AMBER alone means 'Proceed with
caution'.
A
GREEN ARROW may be provided in addition to the full green
signal if movement in a certain direction is allowed before or
after the full green phase. If the way is clear you may go but
only in the direction shown by the arrow. You may do this whatever
other lights may be showing.
Instructionsto pedestrians above the push-button-control
for calling up pedestrian phases at light signals
Flashing red lights
ALTERNATIVE flashing RED lights mean YOU MUST STOP
Stop when the traffic
lights show
General
It is advisable to cross where there is an island in the
middle of the road if there is no pedestrian crossing point nearby. Use the Safe
Crossing Code to cross to the island and then stop and use it again to cross the
second half of the road.
49. Do not cross the road either at a crossing or
elsewhere against a signal to stop by a police officer, traffic warden or school
crossing patrol. You may cross even against the lights if clearly directed to do
so, but always cross in front of them.
Situations needing extra care
Emergency vehicles
50. If an ambulance, fire engine, police or other
emergency vehicle approaches using flashing blue lights, headlights and/or
sirens, keep off the road.
Buses
51. Only get on or off a bus when it has stopped to allow
you to do so. Watch out for cyclists, etc. approaching in the near side when you
are getting off. Never cross the road directly behind or in front of a bus; wait
until it has moved off and you can see clearly in both directions.
Cars
52. Be very careful if stepping on to the carriageway to
get in or out of a car. Use the kerbside doors wherever possible. Even though
the driver of the car may have to use the offside door, it should always be
possible for passengers to use only the kerbside doors.
Care of children
53.Young children should never be trusted alone on either
a pavement or the road. When out, walk between them and traffic, hold their
hands firmly, make sure very young children are strapped into push-chairs, or
use reins. Do not let them run into the road.
Care of the elderly and the handicapped
54.The elderly have slower reflexes and are slow moving.
The handicapped especially the blind and those wheelchair bound are particularly
vulnerable. They should seek and be given assistance whenever necessary
especially for crossing the road. The blind should always carry a white stick.
